Banksy's Rats Explained

Oct 11, 2024

If you’re familiar with Banksy’s art, chances are, you’ve noticed that rats are a recurring motif in his street art and prints. But what do these rats mean? Why is Banksy so fascinated with rats? And when did he start painting rats?

Read on to learn all about Bansky’s iconic street art rats, what they symbolise, who inspired them and where they have been spotted. 

A Timeline of Banksy Rats

  • 1998 – Banksy starts to incorporate rats into his graffiti art in Bristol and London
  • 2002 – Banksy created ‘Radar Rat’ as part of a series (first exhibited in London in 2002)
  • 2004 – Banksy created ‘Love Rat’ in Liverpool, ‘Gangsta Rat’ in London and other rat series’ in London
  • 2004 – Banksy carried out the infamous museum prank, installing ‘Banksus Militus Vandalus’ - a taxidermied rat dressed as a street artist in the Natural History Museum
  • 2010 – Banksy pieces depicting rats appeared in San Francisco
  • 2011 – Banksy created street art with his iconic rat motif alongside the words “If graffiti changed anything...it would be illegal" in central London
  • 2020 – Banksy created rat-themed art in his bathroom during lockdown (including images of rats peeing into the toilet, making tally marks on the wall, and even squeezing toothpaste!) 

What Do Banksy’s Rats Symbolise?

So, we all know that Banksy’s work often features the famous rat motif – but why? Is it because ‘rat’ is an anagram of ‘art’? Does Banksy just really love rats, or is there a deeper meaning behind his rat artwork? Let’s find out… 

Capitalism

Banksy has frequently addressed capitalism and consumerism in his street art, and the iconic rats are thought to symbolise the ‘rat race’ of capitalism – the competition and consumerism presented in one rat-sized motif.

The Oppressed

Banksy’s rats are also thought to symbolise the marginalised – Banksy has described his rats as a voice for the ‘hated, hunted and persecuted’. He said, “If you are dirty, insignificant, and unloved, then rats are the ultimate role model".

Banksy believes that, much like rats, street art has the ability to facilitate change. He wrote on a piece of rat-themed street art:

“If graffiti changed anything – it would be illegal.”

This statement highlights how powerful graffiti can be as a form of resistance – graffiti can lead to change, but is considered illegal. 

Stealth

Rats famously explore urban spaces unnoticed. Banksy said himself that rats “exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted. They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth. And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilisations to their knees.”

Does this remind you of anyone? Rats can be compared to street artists, who also have to stealthily navigate the streets in the dark. They have to run away and hide from local councils and law enforcement. Banksy himself has to conceal his identity in order to create his artwork. 

Both are also often viewed as nuisances by society – pests to be dealt with, like rats. In fact, Banksy often paints his rats with spray paint cans, strengthening this parallel.

What (or Who) Inspired Banksy’s Rats?

Banky’s rats were inspired by French graffiti artist Blek le Rat, who was one of the first artists to use rats as motifs in street art. Known as the ‘Father of Stencil Graffiti’, Blek le Rat would create street art in Paris in the 1980s, two decades before Banksy began to do so.

Blek le Rat has not gone uncredited by Banksy – Banksy said “Every time I think I've painted something slightly original, I find out that Blek Le Rat has done it as well. Only twenty years earlier”.

But why did Blek le Rat paint rats? Because he viewed rats as the only free animal in the city, which is a similar reason why Banksy uses rats as motifs.

Where Have Banksy’s Rats Been Spotted?

Banksy’s rats have been spotted in urban environments around the world, from the street-art hotspots of London to Liverpool and even New York City. Here are just a few locations where lucky passersby have spotted Banksy’s rats:

  • Camden
  • Old Street
  • Brighton
  • Shoreditch
  • Liverpool
  • South Bank
  • New York City
  • Birmingham
  • Manchester
  • Dismaland

Banksy’s rats have also been spotted in Bristol – after all, this is where Banksy is from, and many of his earlier works feature rats. For more interesting facts about Banksy, check out this blog!

Banksy’s Bathroom Rats Explained

Banksy created rat artwork in his own bathroom during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown back in 2020, as a commentary about life under quarantine.

He shared pictures of his painted bathroom rats on Instagram, humorously captioned "My wife hates it when I work from home".

 

These rats highlight the everyday frustrations most of us felt when we were confined to our homes. Here’s what some of the rats were doing that many of us can relate to:

  • Tallying the days on a wall
  • Playing with (and wasting!) toilet paper (remember when people were panic-buying it?)
  • Adjusting a mirror (looking at the same walls during lockdown was not fun)
  • Urinating in the toilet – and missing (I hope not many of you can relate to this one!)

Banksy was able to create relevant art even during lockdown. During the multiple lockdowns, many people turned to creative expression – whether it be knitting, painting or taking up an instrument – and street artist Banksy was no exception.

If you’re looking to purchase Banksy’s art, check out our collection at Grove Gallery.

 


Contact us

This site is protected by hCaptcha and the hCaptcha Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.