If you’ve walked past Northbridge lately and noticed the crowds outside the Northbridge Centre, it’s probably for The Art of Banksy: “Without Limits”. The team at Secret Perth visited recently, and we can guarantee it’s well worth your time. Whether you’re a long-time fan or just know Banksy as “that street artist with the balloon girl,” the exhibition is accessible, interesting, and sure to leave a lasting impression. Check out our review to get a taste of what you’re in for with this stunning collection.
The space itself is much larger than we expected, with a mix of prints, sculptures, video installations, and full-scale recreations of some of Banksy’s best-known pieces. It’s self-guided, so you can take it at your own pace (it took us about 90 minutes), and the layout flows nicely.
The first section gives a good intro to Banksy’s early days, including some lesser-known pieces from his Bristol beginnings. There’s also video content giving context to his rise and how his stencilling style came to define him. Next up is an entire room dedicated to Dismaland, Banksy’s 2015 anti-theme park installation. A cheeky spoof TV advert loops above a satirical park map—think a Disneyland gone wonderfully awry. Here, the artist’s dark humour shines and you really get a sense of just how on-the-nose his satire can be. After this, the British room delivers various iconic pieces including the classic red telephone box and the Stormzy Union Jack stab vest from Glastonbury.
The heavier moments of the exhibition centre on Banksy’s political activism. The Ukraine section features several of his large-scale murals created during the ongoing war, alongside intimate video interviews with local residents. There’s also a space dedicated to his involvement with the Louise Michel, a rescue boat helping migrants in the Mediterranean, and a recreation of the Walled-Off Hotel in Bethlehem, with furniture, graffiti, and videos giving insight into the fraught politics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. These works are a sobering, powerful exploration of conflict, resilience, and hope—Banksy as both artist and activist.
Other eye-catching works that stood out to were the Girl With Balloon and Flower Thrower, blown up to a large size perfect for taking photos; the Infinity Mirror Room, a playful, immersive space; and the Banksy x Media section including his famous Warhol-inspired prints of Kate Moss. Amid all this spectacle, we recommend keeping an eye down low—the small graffiti rats scattered on the floor are pure Banksy easter eggs. Spotting them feels like a secret handshake!
With over 200 works, including 95 originals, spanning murals, sculptures, prints, video and immersive rooms, the scope and scale of this exhibition alone is a reason to visit. Plus, the emotional range will ensure you have a completely memorable experience. One moment you’re chuckling at Dismaland, the next you’re absorbing the weight of war in Ukraine or Palestine. You’ll leave having truly experienced the impact of Banksy, an artist that doesn’t just paint, but forces questions about conflict, identity, protest and humour. Have we got you convinced? Grab your tickets here to experience the phenomenon for yourself.
