Banksy Was Here Exhibition Makes World Premiere at Philadelphia Fashion District

Banksy Was Here: The Exhibition, an "unauthorized" Banksy exhibition, opens at Philadelphia Fashion District this Saturday, December 3, 2022 and runs through January 31, 2023. Don’t miss its arrival and debut in Philadelphia! The experience will plunge visitors into the universe of the enigmatic Bristol-born street artist, offering an incredible journey featuring over 80 genuine and certified artworks from private collections. This experience and collection will make its world premiere right here in the city of brotherly love, after select pieces have toured the globe in 15 other cities. Tickets are $22.90 and up, with children under four free, and discounts available for seniors, students, military, and groups (15 or more tickets). The exhibition will take place at Philadelphia Fashion District, at 901 Market St, with the entrance on the outside of the mall at the 9th and Market intersection.  Tickets and additional information are available online at https://banksyexpo.com/philadelphia/ Banksy Was Here is presented by Exhibition Hub and Fever.

Banksy Was Here invites guests into the universe of one of the most mysterious and elusive artists in the world. The selection of masterpieces as well as a unique virtual reality experience gives Philly residents the opportunity to enjoy a highly educational and descriptive voyage through the artist’s world and career.  

"Banksy's work allows us to see our everyday world in a different way,” said Exhibition Hub Executive Producer John Zaller. “This approach will appeal to everyone who comes to Banksy Was Here, whether they are seeing the artist's work for the first time or the hundredth. The exhibit design provides a different perspective to all who enter: it transports you to a whole other place that is totally unexpected and entirely engaging - similar to Banksy's work."

He continued, "Banksy fans will love Banksy Was Here because of the dedication that our team took to be as true to the artist's approach as we could be. From the moment you enter to the moment you leave, we place you in environments that evoke the authenticity and the irony of Banksy's works while also curating the collection in a way that is accessible to all."

The Exhibition has toured in over 15 cities, and is now coming to Philadelphia to highlight Banksy’s most preserved works. The exhibition will feature over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos and photos including the classics of the legendary artist. Banksy has been known to question the rules of the game of contemporary art, and is considered one of the main figures of street art. These pieces, which come from private collections and in collaboration with Lilley Fine Art/ Contemporary Art Gallery, will be exhibited in Philadelphia for the very first time!

Zaller said, "Philadelphia is the perfect city to debut Banksy Was Here because of its love of art and its gritty personality. Philadelphians know what they want and they take pride in knowing who they are, just like Banksy. The Fashion District is a fantastic central location right in the middle of the city. And our venue  right at the corner of 9th and Market has an industrial and commercial feel that is the perfect backdrop for Banksy Was Here."

Tickets are available for purchase on Fever’s marketplace today through January 2023. All ages are welcome. Get ready to embark on a journey to the heart of the artwork of the mysterious king of the streets!

WHO'S BANKSY: CLUES

Slippery, provocative, mysterious.... Banksy, the British artist whose identity is still unknown, is considered one of the main contemporary street art icons. His art, many times satirical, addresses universal issues such as politics, culture or ethics. In the center of Manhattan, an "unauthorized" Banksy’s exhibition, dedicated to the enigmatic artist, lets visitors dive into the controversial artistic universe of the most influential creator of present time

80 GENUINE AND AUTHENTICATED ARTWORKS

The exhibition will include over 80 original works, sculptures, installations, videos and photos including the now classics of the artist (presumed to be British), like the essential 'Girl with Balloon', similar to the one destroyed by the artist at the auctioneer Sotheby's in London, his portrait of Lenin, the 'Fallen Angels' smokers cigarette or his explosive 'Monkey Detonator'. These pieces come from private collections and - with the collaboration of Lilley Fine Art / Contemporary Art Gallery - will be exhibited in Philadelphia for the first time!

A MULTISENSORY ARTISTIC INSTALLATION AND VR EXPERIENCE

For the very first time, the public will be able to discover the works of Banksy in their natural habitat, as if they were truly there, thanks to the magic of technology. An impressive multimedia installation, created especially for this exhibition, will welcome visitors, revealing clues of the mystery artist and highlighting his most important pieces - framing his unusual career wrapped in controversy. In addition, enjoy at the end of the exhibition a virtual reality experience through the artist’s career, created especially for this event.

WHAT YOU WILL FIND AT THE EXHIBITION

Passionate about art: stop everything! It's official, It’s official Philadelphia is hosting “ Banksy Was Here : The Exhibition”, The new interactive exhibition dedicated to the famous and enigmatic British artist. The experience is designed as an immersion in the mysterious universe of the Bristol street artist and offers a unique journey through more than 80 genuine and certified works on loan from private collectors from all over the world. The exhibition offers a unique Virtual Reality experience that gives a new dimension to the artist's works and takes you on a multisensory journey to the heart of the work of the mysterious master of the streets, of which no one is indifferent.

FACTS AT A GLANCE

Where does the exhibit take place?
Fashion District Philadelphia (Venue is located inside the Fashion District Mall, across from Levi’s and above Sephora. Enter the mall at 9th and Market, go up the escalator, and turn left.)

How long does the exhibition last?
The visit lasts between 60 and 80 minutes.

Are the works in the exhibition original and certified?
The exhibition features over 80 genuine and certified works from a private collection.

Can we buy the works during the exhibition?
No, the works belong to a private collection and are not for sale. However, there will be a gift shop with catalogs and other items related to the exhibition.

Does the experience include an audio guide?
Yes it does! It is free and works through your phones, so if you want to access it please bring your own pair of headphones.

Will it be a parking onsite?
There will be valet parking available onsite

Website:
https://banksyexpo.com/philadelphia/
(Also see Q/A section on website for more details)

Date:
From December 3, 2022 until January 31st, 2023
(Official first day is December 3rd unless it opens early - they are putting finishing touches on things now - but the print date is December 3rd)

Opening hours:
Monday, Thursday and Sunday : 10:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Friday, Saturday : 10:00 AM - 08:00 PM
December 24 and December 31 : 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
January 1 : 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM

Duration:
The visit lasts approximately 60 to 80 minutes

Location:
Fashion District Philadelphia
External entrance to The Exhibition is at corner of 9th and Market

Age requirement:
All ages!

ABOUT EXHIBITION HUB

Exhibition Hub is a curator, producer and distributor of large exhibitions across the world, from the Americas to Europe and Asia. They deliver edutainment experiences to wide audiences and adapt their productions to the venue creating each time an original experience from museums, exhibition centers, galleries to shopping malls, old churches, historical buildings and other unique spots. Nowadays, Exhibition Hub focuses more and more on immersive experiences. They offer a spectacular 360° video, light and music experience and a one of a kind virtual reality experiences each a compliment to the immersive experiences, didactic introduction galleries allowing the visitor to immerse himself/herself into the artist before experiencing the spectacular larger than life projections all synchronized to an original score of music.

ABOUT FEVER

Fever is the leading global live-entertainment discovery platform, helping millions of people every month to discover the best experiences in their cities, with a mission to democratize access to culture and entertainment in real life. Through its platform, Fever inspires its community to enjoy unique local experiences and events, from immersive art exhibitions, interactive theatrical experiences, festivals, classical music concerts to molecular cocktail pop-ups while empowering creators with data and technology to create and expand experiences across the world.