Banksy exhibition with 28 original works opens in Colchester

Out of Line: Banksy and the Art of Dissent opens at The Minories on Saturday, October 10, and will run until February 28, 2027.

It features 28 original Banksy pieces displayed alongside work from more than 20 other leading figures in street and urban contemporary art.

Unlike many exhibitions that showcase photographs or reproductions, every piece at The Minories is either an original artwork or an artist-certified print.

John Brandler, the art dealer who brought the exhibition to Colchester, said: "I brought it to Colchester because I heard how wonderful The Minories was.

"They have put themselves totally behind this show. It's much bigger than they've ever done before.

"The more pieces you have together by any one artist, the more you appreciate each individual piece. It's wonderful.

"This is the art by Banksy."

Rat Art - Banksy’s rat motif is one of his most iconic symbols, representing resilience, subversion, and the power of the overlooked (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Collector - John Brandler is the owner and founder of Brandler Galleries, a gallery that specializes in modern art, street art, and fine art in Brentwood, and has been collecting Banksy works for more than two decades (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Among the highlights is the iconic Hula Hoop Girl, originally painted on a wall in Nottingham, and a rare Banksy self-portrait featuring his trademark monkey mask.

Mr Brandler said: "Banksy has done for British art, what the Beatles did for British music.

"Banksy is not the best street artist I know, but he's the best known.

"He's the one that everybody wants to go and look at."

The exhibition is expected to attract visitors from across Essex and beyond, with Colchester Council backing the event as part of its commitment to boosting the city’s cultural profile.

Music - Banksy has deep connections with the music industry from the underground scene of Bristol in the late '80s to the Glastonbury stage (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Emma Howe, curator at The Minories, said: "Holding this exhibition at the Minories here in Colchester is huge for us.

"Obviously Colchester has a really long history of dissent, like right from Boudica, burning the town to the ground in AD60, through the Peasants' Revolt, through the siege of Colchester, the miners' strikes in the 80s.

"This is the perfect place to hold an exhibition like this, which is about dissent. And to be able to bring over 30 Banksys to our city is just a huge privilege.

"I feel so incredibly proud to have been able to give this to Colchester."

Gallery - Emma Howe is creative director at The Minories and is 'incredibly proud' to bring original Banksy works to Colchester (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Ms Howe believes the show will appeal to audiences who might not typically visit galleries and feels street art "transcends some of the barriers" people may feel about engaging with art. 

She said: "I think street art attracts people that don't see themselves as being traditional art lovers.

"By having it in a traditional gallery, we're saying this art that's here is as valuable as any other type of art.

"I think that Colchester people deserve to see amazing art."

Walls - This exhibition is the first time two brick walls with original Banksy works have been featured in an exhibition together (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Exhibition - Out of Line: Banksy and the Art of Dissent will run at The Minories until February 28, 2027 (Image: Claudia Bradley, Newsquest)

Colchester councillor Darius Laws, portfolio holder for heritage, culture and the environment, said:  "It's not every day that original Banksy artworks arrive in Colchester, so today feels like a significant moment for the city.

"Tomorrow, people will be able to walk through the doors of The Minories and see an exhibition that would not look out of place in one of the country's major cultural centres.

"We're proud to have supported The Minories in bringing this exhibition here, giving residents the chance to experience something extraordinary while attracting visitors and boosting the city's cultural offer."

Adult tickets are £12.50, with children aged five-16 for £6, family tickets of two adults and up to three children for £30 and concessions for £8.

Tickets can be booked online through The Minories website, and early booking is recommended due to high demand.