Steve Lazarides' 12,000-Photo Archive of Banksy's Early Years

Steve Lazarides, who served as Banksy's photographer, agent, and gallerist from 1997 to 2008, has amassed an archive of over 12,000 photographs documenting the artist's rise from Bristol's streets to global fame. The images, shot on film with a Nikon camera, capture Banksy's nocturnal painting missions, stencil preparation, and the labor behind his interventions. Lazarides met Banksy in 1997 in Bristol after being commissioned by the magazine Sleazenation. The archive, known as Banksy Captured, is preserved in two volumes that combine photographs with Lazarides' recollections. The images never reveal Banksy's face, instead showing fragments like hands or hooded figures. Lazarides has repeatedly declined to disclose Banksy's identity, even in 2024. The professional relationship ended in 2008, with Lazarides citing the need to represent other artists. The photographs are now available as signed editions through GraffitiStreet Gallery in Chichester, England.