At the beginning of October, the famous street artist known as Banksy announced an upcoming "residency" on the streets of New York City, titled "Better Out Than In". Nearly every day this month, Banksy's website announced the appearance of a new piece somewhere in New York's five boroughs. New Yorkers flocked to catch a glimpse of stencils, tags, sculptures, and moving works of art before they disappeared, or were defaced or painted over.
Banksy in NYC
-
A man holds up a local newspaper in front of a new art piece by British graffiti artist Banksy in the Brooklyn borough of New York, on October 17, 2013. Banksy has caught the attention of New York mayor Michael Bloomberg saying that graffiti ruins property. "It's a sign of decay and loss of control". #
Reuters/Carlo Allegri -
-
A woman takes a picture of an artwork by British graffiti artist Banksy in Lower Manhattan in New York City, on October 15, 2013. Art collectors and tourists in New York got a bargain during the weekend when British graffiti artist Banksy, whose work is expected to fetch upwards of $150,000 at an auction later this year, sold paintings at a pop-up stall in Central Park for $60. #
Reuters/Eduardo Munoz -
People pose to have their pictures taken in front of Banksy's latest work depicting the New York City skyline with the former World Trade Center Twin Towers in Tribeca, on October 15, 2013. #
Daniel Pierce Wright/Getty Images -
-
A woman takes a picture of a defaced bit of graffiti by elusive British artist Banksy, as part of his month-long Better Out Than In exhibit, in New York, on October 3, 2013. The original piece read "This is my New York Accent ...normally I write like this." #
Emmanuel Dunand/AFP/Getty Images -
-
-
People crowd around a chain link fence to take photos of a Grim Reaper figure riding a bumper car, the newest art installation by British artist Banksy in New York, on October 25, 2013. #
Reuters/Carlo Allegri -
-
Benjamin Butler, 7 months old, is photographed by his mother as he sits in his baby seat next to the newest art installation of a robot and a barcode by Banksy, on a wall in Coney Island, on October 28, 2013. #
Reuters/Brendan McDermid -
-
-
Feliciano Perez guards work by British artist Banksy in Brooklyn, on October 19, 2013. The building owner hired security guards and installed a metal gate to protect the artwork. Cara Tabachnick, whose family owns the building, said the goal is to preserve the artwork "so it can be viewed and enjoyed." Most of the Banksy works that have gone up have been tagged over by others, and some have been completely erased. #
AP Photo/Alyssa Goodman -
We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to letters@theatlantic.com.