British graffiti artist Banksy will become an honorary professor at the University for the Creative Arts, a British university with several campuses located in the south of the United Kingdom and specializing in plastic arts. Bashir Makhoul, president of the institution, has assured: "Banksy is among the best known British artists in the world, he is a very good example for our students". What has captivated the university, according to Makhoul, has been his innate talent for breaking the status-quo and opposing war and inequality.
To the displeasure of many of the institution's students, the chair that the street artist will receive is purely symbolic, so he will not be able to work as a teacher. Furthermore, he has yet to confirm his attendance at the handover ceremony, as Banksy's identity is completely unknown and he has never made any public appearance.
Banksy has created works around the world, including a street stall installation in Venice and an engraving of the wall separating Israel and Palestine. He has made drawings and graffiti all over the United Kingdom, in Paris, Milan, Berlin or New York. In October 2018, Banksy starred in a controversial scene at the London auction house Sotheby's. After closing the sale of one of his works for a whopping 1.18 million euros, an alarm sounded from the painting and the drawing began to self-destruct.
He is also known for his activism, including funding a ship to rescue refugees in the Mediterranean, encouraging people to wear face masks on public transport during the pandemic, drawing attention to homelessness at Christmas, and supporting the movement against climate change Extinction Rebellion.
