Famed British Graffiti Artist Banksy Featured in CONTEXT Art Miami

Art Miami, in conjunction with new photo-sharing platform
I PXL U, has announced "BANKSY Out of CONTEXT," one of the most anticipated exhibitions for the 23rd edition of Art Miami and the inaugural edition of CONTEXT Art Miami, which will kick off Miami Art Week with an exclusive VIP Preview today, Dec. 4, 2012.

The exhibition, consisting of five wall reliefs equaling more than six-and-a-half tons in weight and featuring iconic stencils from world-renowned guerrilla artist, BANKSY, encourages the debate about 'site-specific' street art outside of its original context. Although the five walls are privately owned and not for sale, I PXL U, and BANKROBBER who will be exhibiting in CONTEXT Art Miami, have come together to offer collectors, artists, connoisseurs and VIP fair guests the rare opportunity to acquire works from a limited showing of a selection of the artists most iconic editioned works, including a rare 'Kate Moss AP' and a unique hand decorated example of the artist's first ever 'Rude Copper' print. BANKROBBER also specializes in salvaging, sourcing and restoring original works by the artist known as BANKSY. I PXL U (pronounced: "I pixel you") is a free photo-sharing platform that allows users to design and print custom photo mosaics.

"Our organization, along with I PXL U, is thrilled to share the rare stencils of BANKSY, perhaps the world's most relevant street artist, with the more than 55,000 visitors who come through Art Miami every year," said Nicholas Korniloff, Director and Partner of Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami. "We encourage the debate surrounding 'BANKSY Out of CONTEXT' and site-specific art in general, and are excited to have created an arena where the subject can be discussed not only by experts and connoisseurs, but the public."

The names of these exclusive pieces, much like the artist's identity, will remain a mystery until they are unveiled at both Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami's highly anticipated VIP Preview on December 4th from 5:30 to 10 p.m. Art Miami & CONTEXT Art Miami VIP Card Holders and press members will be the guests to this exclusive soiree that will benefit the Miami Art Museum. This preview will allow VIP's the first opportunity to acquire some of the finest works from the international galleries representing emerging, cutting edge, contemporary and modern works.

Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami together, will feature 190 galleries from more than 21 countries. In the spirit of expanding the discussion, Art Miami and I PXL U have created a space in which attendees can judge in a unique setting, BANKSY's works which would have been destroyed at their original sites. The subject of "site specificity" is divisive within the art community, and visitors will have the opportunity to enter this debate and discuss whether showcasing these works outside their original context is, in fact, an attempt to bring the artist's message to a wider audience. Literature and video footage regarding the, artist and his works will be available on-site, and attendees will have the chance to appreciate these iconic walls while enjoying drinks from the bar and café, as well as, live performances taking place in the outdoor connecting space between CONTEXT Art Miami and Art Miami.

Art Miami and CONTEXT Art Miami, with their combined 250,000-square-feet of indoor and outdoor curated exhibition surface, will become a miniature art city in the heart of Miami's Wynwood Arts District, where attendees will view BANKSY's stencils as well as other curated projects.

"I PXL U, in collaboration with Art Miami, is pleased to present our collection of BANKSY street art," said Stephan Keszler, President and Founder of I PXL U, a new social platform that provides a free way to disseminate memories and mementos online in the form of photo mosaics. "I have no doubt that most of BANKSY's graffiti works would not have survived at their original locations. It is therefore our primary goal to safeguard and preserve these unique works and their critical message, and to share them with as many people as possible."

Robin Barton of BANKROBBER adds, "I am delighted to be given the opportunity to extend this debate through the display of these important early works. Removed from their original context, the question becomes whether they are the mordant bounty of greedy modern day cultural grave robber's or that they represent a unique chance to see the elusive artist's work up close and personal, out of context, yet within CONTEXT."