Anonymous street artist Banksy anonymous no more?

DJ Goldie refers to Banksy as "Robert," possibly Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack, in a podcast

The identity of the famously anonymous and beloved British street graffiti artist, Banksy, may have finally been revealed.

In a podcast earlier this week, British DJ Goldie was discussing the commodification of graffiti when he referred to Banksy as “Robert” possibly confirming the long-standing speculation that the anonymous artist is Robert Del Naja of the band Massive Attack.

Goldie, then, paused and dropped the subject instantly.

Del Naja, one of the founding members of the trip hop group, is himself an acclaimed graffiti artist, one whom Banksy has claimed to take inspiration from in the past.

The clandestine nature of Banksy is in stark contrast to the global acclaim of his street artwork. Based in London, Banksy boasts a worldwide portfolio, featuring murals infused with provocative politics.



From corruption to war to revolution, Banksy, whose street work spans over two decades, applies artistic license to inject a hint of irony, even comedy, into his artistic statements on international affairs.

In March of this year, the artist opened an elaborate boutique art hotel in Bethlehem, West Bank, where ornate decor brought life to lavish murals.

In 2015, the performer opened “Dismaland,” an abandoned, dismal dystopia in south-west England, where a burnt Minnie Mouse billboard and crashed Cinderella carriage are just a couple of the grim takes on the classic childhood amusement park.

Last year, an investigative journalist justified the suspicion behind Del Naja’s involvement with Banksy, noting many of the artist’s work appeared in locations and dates aligning with Massive Attack’s tour schedule. Del Naja has denied ties to Banksy in the past.

 

This article originally appeared on CNN.