Most societies consider graffiti and street art vandalism, employed by inner-city teenagers and criminals and characterized by spray-paint. "Fine art," by contrast, lends to consist more of 17th century paintings and sculptures, which the wealthy and powerful buy and sell in elite auction halls and exclusive conventions, for a long lime, these two forms of art--street and traditional--were considered asymmetrical, opposites, perhaps not even belonging in the same category of "art." However, with the recent rise of an international iconoclast street artist, these two forms may finally be put on equal ground. Bursts of controversial "vandalism" marked by shocking images and political satire have swept the streets of England, Israel, France, Canada, the United States, and elsewhere by a secretive graffiti artist. Critics label him a fraud, yet admirers call him a genius. While his art may be varied, one clear message emerges: a call for change. His name? Nobody knows. As for his street name, he goes by Banksy.

Humanitarian Satire Art

Banksy's street art is marked by dark humor, controversial images, and not-so-subtle political statements. His works often mock society but are also usually open to interpretation. In this sense, the majority of his pieces can be viewed as promoting social change. Using a unique and recognizable stenciled style, his graffiti and the occasional statue have been shocking the modern art world. Each of his works are left in hidden places, often found by passersby in strange and secluded locations. No matter the placing or content of his works, each depicts controversial political messages, alluding to very specific aspects of modern society Banksy seems to think are deserving of society's attention.

One of his most famous murals, "Son of a Migrant from Syria," depicts Apple founder Steve Jobs as an immigrant traveling with a bundle on his back and a Macintosh Classic in hand. Banksy left this image in 2015 in the "Calais Jungle," a migrant camp in France where refugees are often housed upon arriving in Europe. More of an improvised group of tents and sheltersthan a true refugee camp, the Calais Jungle is an apt example of the demeaning living conditions that immigrants often have to endure. Even if they do succeed in finding their way into countries that offer better living prospects, they are still often faced with hate speech and blatant discrimination. Banksy's well-recognized image of the founder of the world's wealthiest tech company is a reminder that many of the today's most successful and impactful entrepreneurs have been immigrants or born to immigrant parents as was Steve Jobs, To further make this point, he even accompanied his artwork with a rare statement: "We're often led to believe migration is a drain on the country's resources, but Steve Jobs was the son of a Syrian migrant. Apple...