Banksy’s 2003 London exhibition featuring paintings, sculptures and graffiti art was called Turf War.
Turf War took place in a former warehouse in London and helped establish Banksy as more than a creator of small stencil pieces in public spaces. The exhibition combined painted works with sculptural installations and the artist’s characteristic political humour.
The title refers to competition over territory, a recurring idea in graffiti culture and in Banksy’s wider work. The exhibition also attracted attention because it included altered images of familiar public figures and animals, using satire rather than conventional portraiture.
Turf War should not be confused with Barely Legal, Banksy’s large 2006 exhibition in Los Angeles. Nor is it the same as Santa’s Ghetto, a recurring project associated with Bethlehem and Christmas-themed political art.