Banksy: Monkeys

Monkeys are a recurring motif in [Banksy](/artist/banksy)’s provocative and subversive street art. In the world of Banksy, monkeys can be found listening to music on their headphones, acting as stand-ins for Queen Elizabeth II, or preparing to detonate a bomb. Banksy has used monkeys to portray both esteemed and everyday people, drawing parallels between humans and their closest relatives in the animal kingdom. Alongside Banksy’s other oft-repeated subjects—including [rats](/artist-series/banksy-rats), police, and children—the street artist frequently presents monkeys in ironic juxtapositions, as a critique of power, corruption, and consumerism.