A person walks past art by Banksy, during the Guerra, Capitalismo & Liberta exhibition at Rome's Palazzo Cipolla. [Photo/Agencies]

'Badge of self-serving mediocrity'

In rare interviews, Banksy has described himself as conflicted over the impact the high value of his works may have on his integrity, and the need for all artists to sell their output to survive.

"When you look at how society rewards so many of the wrong people, it's hard not to view financial reimbursement as a badge of self-serving mediocrity," he told New York's Village Voice in an e-mail interview in 2013.

But according to London gallery owner Acoris Andipa, one of the curators, the Rome exhibition demonstrates that the Bristol-based artist has always been willing to sell his work to well-heeled buyers.

"Oh heaven, he has always been commercial because that is how he puts food on his plate," Andipa told AFP on the eve of the opening.

'He'll have a giggle'

The dealer said it was important to distinguish between site-specific Banksy works removed from their street settings to be sold, and works he had himself sold or given away.

Asked what he thinks Banksy would make of the exhibition, he quips: "I have no idea－you will have to ask him.

"You could be him for all I know. I would imagine he will have quite a giggle."

Andipa was an early spotter of the likely future value of the "romanticism, immediacy and poignancy" embodied in Banksy's creations and way of operating.