A major retrospective of Banksy, one of the world’s most topical and enigmatic artists, has opened at the Sea World Culture & Arts Center (SWCAC) in Shekou, Nanshan District.

Titled “Banksy Is Nowhere,” the show features approximately 110 works that offer a comprehensive overview of the prints and street practice of the street artist who emerged in the U.K. city of Bristol in the 1990s and has remained anonymous. The exhibition is organized by SWCAC in partnership with Artunes.

Visitors gather to view a recreated Banksy studio at the "Banksy is Nowhere" exhibition at the Sea World Culture & Arts Center (SWCAC) in Shekou. Photos by Hu Lei, SWCAC

On display are 34 Pest Control Office (PCO)-certified prints, including the iconic “Girl With Balloon,” and dozens of objects, coins, film materials and archival documents that trace Banksy’s artistic life. The PCO is the official body established by Banksy to authenticate and manage rights to his works.

Banksy is self-taught and was influenced by the mid-1980s graffiti wave. His subject matter spans climate crisis, anti-consumerism, child welfare, animal rights and other urgent social issues, often delivered with playful or dark humor. His works — appearing on weathered walls, road signs and trash bins — have repeatedly made global headlines overnight.

Visitors photograph street murals by Banksy featured in the exhibition.

Curators have created an immersive experience for visitors: Expansive street murals, a recreated Banksy studio, a graffiti-covered restroom and various settings showcase the artist’s guerrilla-style works.

In addition to celebrating Banksy’s influence on global visual culture, the exhibition aims to reveal the “behind-the-scenes” story of his art life. Documentary materials and archival exhibits give audiences a glimpse into the working methods of the artist, who used the city as a public canvas, redefining the public role of art and restoring the street as a site for social debate.

A young guest poses for photos in a staged scene inspired by Banksy’s works.

Brought to China after years of preparation, the Shenzhen exhibition follows the narrative thread of previous Banksy shows staged in cities such as Berlin, Glasgow and Paris, while reconstructing the original neighborhoods where his work once appeared. Organizers say the exhibition offers visitors the chance to move through Banksy’s night-time street world, encountering the atmosphere of discovery that typically greets his work at dawn.

Visitors explore the immersive displays at the “Banksy is Nowhere” exhibition.

Zhang Xijia, general manager of SWCAC, said that the retrospective is expected to engage both longtime fans and new audiences, inviting to see the world through the singular perspective of Banksy, who has turned anonymity into a global cultural symbol.