Four Awesome Graffiti Artists That Aren't Banksy

By All That's Interesting | Edited By Savannah Cox

Published May 5, 2012

Updated January 25, 2018

Blek le Rat

No graffiti list can be complete without a mention of Banksy, but if one wants to praise Banksy they must also mention his inspiration, Blek le Rat. Blek is an old-school French street artist who has been stencilling since the early 80s. A trip to New York City greatly influenced his distinct style of graffiti and since then he has stencilled the world-over – from Paris to South America – with varying subjects (though favoring the rat).

author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.

Four Awesome Graffiti Artists That Aren’t Banksy

Blek le Rat