The United States hosted Banksy’s first major solo exhibition outside the United Kingdom, Barely Legal.
Barely Legal opened in Los Angeles in 2006. The exhibition attracted international attention and included paintings, sculptures and large-scale installations. One of its most memorable elements was a live elephant presented as part of a statement about poverty and social inequality.
The exhibition’s title plays on the phrase “barely legal,” suggesting both marginality and the uncertain legal status often associated with unauthorised street art. It marked an important step in Banksy’s transition from a primarily British graffiti figure to a globally recognised contemporary artist.
Because Banksy later staged projects in many countries, the exhibition is sometimes incorrectly linked with France, Germany or Australia. Barely Legal, however, was held in the United States, specifically in Los Angeles.