Banksy

What is there to be said about Banksy that hasn’t already been said? Somehow both elusive and ubiquitous, the controversial Brit’s dark humor, satirical bent, and social commentary have transformed him from an anonymous graffiti artist into one of the most famous and renowned artists in the world. 2013 and 2014 were both massive years for Banksy thanks to his “Better Out Than In” street residency in New York City and subsequent HBO documentary and corresponding book. Yet, somehow, the artist one-upped himself in 2015 with what was easily the biggest and most highly anticipated exhibition of the year: “Dismaland.” Spanning 10,200 square feet in the nondescript English seaside town of Weston-Super-Mare, the “bemusement park” showcased 58 of the art world’s enfants terrible as Banksy tapped everyone from Damien Hirst and ESPO to Jenny Holzer and Pussy Riot. When all was said and done, he shed light on the ongoing refugee crisis throughout Europe, lending a helping hand to those displaced and in search of safety and betterment by donating Dismaland’s timber and fixtures to build shelters at the so-called “Jungle” camp in Calais. But his most lasting impression of the year? A portrait of Steve Jobs at that same refugee camp as a reminder of the Apple icon’s humble origins and the potential power of each and every human being.