Banksy is especially known for using stencil art to create images quickly in public spaces.
A stencil allows an artist to spray or roll paint through cut-out shapes, producing a recognizable image with much less time on site than freehand painting would usually require. The method suits unauthorized street art because it can be prepared in advance and applied rapidly.
Banksy combines stenciled figures, short phrases and found urban surfaces to make works that are immediately legible. His images often use simplified silhouettes and strong contrasts, helping them communicate political or social ideas from a distance.
Banksy did not invent stencil art, and not every work associated with him is made entirely from stencils. Some pieces include freehand elements, sculpture, installation or objects placed in public locations. Nevertheless, stencil art remains the technique most strongly associated with his public murals and prints.