This small town in Occitanie wishes to exhibit nearly 250 works by one of the world icons of street art

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« Banksy Modeste Collection ». This is the name of a traveling exhibition bringing together nearly 250 works by the famous artist Banksyglobal icon of street art. A clash that the town of Villefranche-de-Lauragais aims to host. “It has taken place in many cities since 2021: Marseille, Montpellier, Roubaix, Brest, Toulouse, Noisy-le-Sec and even Tarnos where it attracted 21,000 people in the space of two weeks. […] More it has never before been planned in a town of less than 10,000 inhabitants», confides Martine Mercadal the municipal councilor who is leading this project.

If the project comes to fruition, the Villefranche public could discover October 2025many pieces from the one who has become in recent years a global phenomenon of urban art thanks to its stencil graffiti. “This exhibition brings together copies but also some originals of more modest works,” specifies the elected official.

Who is Banksy?

If Banksy has become one of the leading artists of the 20th^e century, it is as much for its artistic expression mixing poetry, humor and political commitment than for the immense mystery surrounding his person. In fact, we know very little about him. And the one that many call “the master of the street”has also taken care never to publicly reveal his face. A way to get people talking about him and especially aboutmaintain the wildest speculations around his identity .

We barely know that the author of The Little Girl with the Balloon would be of British origin and aged around forty. His works and slogans – often anti-militarist – are visible on walls all over the world, from London has Venice, passing through Jerusalem or New York and of course Paris where he even has a museum in his name. In the midst of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, he also went to Kiev to paint a wall there. He did the same to Gaza in 2015 or on wall of separation between Israel and the West Bankwhere he created, the same year, a mural representing a white dove, a symbol of peace.

If the artist Banksy fiercely preserves the mystery of his identity it is undoubtedly because he first wants to make visible the battles he is waging. His works created in the streets, most often using stencils, aim above all to denounce and criticize the failings of men and societies, with the stated aim of making us think and react. Racism, homophobia, religion, capitalism, war, disinformation… are all themes that he brings to our attention and our consciences with subversion, humor and poetry. His stencils are invitations to break down divisions, to confront our contradictions and to look at the world poetically.

A solidarity exhibition

The values ​​conveyed by Banksy’s works are at the heart of this traveling exhibition. Wherever it is presented, Access to the Banksy Modeste Collection is free for the public . Visitors are invited to make donations which will then support the realization of actions linked to the ideals of the artist.

“It’s a solidarity exhibitionwhich can only be carried by associations which have solidarity or humanitarian projects. And at the end of this, they have the possibility of receiving a portion of the donations collected by the endowment fund of the Banksy Modeste Collection. In 2021, these are for example €250,000 which was donated », underlines Martine Mercadal.

In this collection patiently assembled for 17 years, you will not find works worth millions on an art market, also denounced by the artist, but you will understand the journey and the mind of Banksy. And since many of us will not have the chance to admire his works on the walls of the four corners of the world, we offer to see them for free, to take the measure of this beautiful human and artistic adventure and to make a gesture for solidarity.

A meeting to allow the project to come to fruition

From now on, the municipality of Villefranche-de-Lauragais therefore intends to mobilize local associations
but also partner companies to allow this exhibition project to see the light of day.

This event will take place over two weeks and promises to attract nearly 20,000 visitors, offering our city an unprecedented cultural showcase.

For this, the municipality organizes a information meeting on Wednesday November 20at 7:30 p.m. at the rural home. This will be held in the presence of Thierry Anglesthe president of the Banksy Modeste Collection endowment fund and organizer of this traveling exhibition.

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