- Banksy's identity as Robin Gunningham was recently revealed, sparking global interest in his art.
- Park City's Banksy piece has thus drawn increased attention and discussion among visitors.
- Local artists appreciate the exposure and community engagement generated by Banksy's work.
PARK CITY — Spend enough time walking along Main Street in Park City, and you'll find no shortage of ways to spend money.
But tucked between the shops, galleries, and restaurants are pieces of art that ask people to slow down a little more.
For years, one of those pieces came with a mystery.
Now, that mystery may be gone.
"I only know just the stuff I saw on Instagram," said William Wayne. "I didn't know he was just discovered."
Robin Gunningham has been identified as the artist known as Banksy.
His art has become popular around the world, but very few knew his true identity until earlier this week, when investigative reporters working on figuring out who Banksy truly is identified him as Gunningham.
Banksy's art just off Main Street in Park City has always been popular, but Wednesday afternoon, lots of people stopped to take pictures of it and talked about it.
William Wayne, his parents, and siblings were visiting from Dallas, and he stopped to take a picture of the Banksy.
"I think it's probably worth more because for the last, was it 10 or 15 years? He has been making stuff and it's been worth a lot, but now that people know who it is, maybe he's just like a new famous artist," said Wayne.
The recent identification of Banksy has sparked new conversations around the world.
"Now that we know who he is, it's brought a lot of new attention, I think, to his artwork," said Geoff Wayne, who is William's father. "There was always this question of who is he or she? Is it real? Is it a group of people?"
He said putting a name to the artist might change how some people connect to the work.
"I think that's really going to make it more unique, because you can associate the art with an individual, and so I think it makes it more personal," said Geoff Wayne.
But even with the reveal, some of the intrigue remains.
"It'll be interesting to see if his artwork will continue to pop up unexpectedly," said Geoff Wayne. "That surprise element is really important."
In Park City, the Banksy piece has long been more than just a curiosity.
"The Banksy has done a lot for Park City," said Claire Wiley, with the Arts Council of Park City and Summit County.
Wiley said the artist's work, mystery and all, has always done what public art is supposed to do.
"He gets people talking, he sparks conversation. He makes you ponder, he pushes boundaries," she said. "That's exactly what artists are supposed to do."
She added that while one piece may draw attention, it often leads visitors to discover much more.
"We have more than 100 public art pieces in Park City and Summit County. It's almost like a treasure hunt," said Wiley with a smile. "So, if Banksy brings people here to go to Main Street and take that picture, maybe they'll look around a little bit and absorb some of the other public art that we have."
That broader exposure is something local artists are grateful for.
Miller Delbridge, a Park City artist who is about to begin another mural in the area, said the mystery behind Banksy has always been part of the appeal.
"I think having it remain a mystery makes it more exciting," she said. "It leaves it up to the mind of who he is, where he lives, and where he's going to be."
At the same time, Delbridge said the growing interest in public art benefits artists across the community.
"Thanks to Create PC and the Arts Council here, we're able to have a lot of opportunities that we wouldn't really know about," she said.
For artists like her, seeing people interact with their work is what makes it meaningful.
"You put so much time into a big piece and just having someone come and take pictures with your work really makes it all worth it," she said.
Would she like to be as popular as Banksy?
"Oh gosh. I mean, yeah obviously, to be honest. Yes," she said with a laugh. "'I'm Miller Delbridge, and I am the next Banksy. Thank you so much.'"
Whether Banksy's identity changes how people view his work remains to be seen.
There's also the question lingering in many people's minds if Gunningham is truly Banksy, or if this is just another grand scheme as part of a mysterious game the artist has played for decades.
"You never know, right? I mean, we're kind of all in this story, kind of seeing it unfold. So, it'll be interesting to see what happens," said Geoff Wayne.
In the meantime, in a town known for its scenery and slopes, those in the art community here are happy to hear art being talked about.
"I think that public art gets to show you who you are as a community because that speaks to what we hold dear," said Wiley. "I just hope for everyone, this again sparks curiosity for art and public art."
