A Russian artist going by the name of P183 has hit the headlines in the UK for some very imaginative street art that has been popping up around Moscow. Similarities have instantly been made to the UK's very own Banksy with some calling P183 Bankski!

The similarities in the way he goes about his work and the fact that his identity is not known for sure. His work also makes use of the urban surroundings in which it appears, again something Banksy became an expert at doing.

Take a look at this piece that was done after snowfall in a Moscow square gave him the opportunity to create a pair of glasses with a lamppost acting as the second arm. This is what P183 said of the work "The snow fell, covering the square in a huge white sheet. Looking from the window of the upper floor I could not help looking for items to put fantasies into reality. In the middle of the courtyard stands a lamppost, which very much resembles the shackle of glasses. The decision came immediately to make it a reality."

Take a look at some of the other images that were captured before the work was 'removed'.

Pictures: REX FEATURES

So will this be seen as a challenge to Banksy as one of the most sought after street artists in the world? I don't think we can jump ahead that far quite so soon but this is one dude who we will be keeping an eye on!

What do you think? Rival or something completely different?

January has barely finished and we already have reports of what definitely looks like a Banksy piece appearing on an office building in Kentish Town on Oval St. This stencil features a little girl pulling a small wagon carrying a surface to air missile launcher. Nothing has appeared on Banksy's official website as of yet but these things usually take a little time!

With the Olympics being held in London this year it looks like we could expect to see a few more pieces going up around the city.

I have seen imitations of Banksy art in the past but none quite like the 'Hanksy' pieces that have been seen popping up as of late in New Yorks Lower East Side.

Using famous Banksy pieces the only difference is that the face of Tom Hanks replace the heads of rats, a balloon, 3 monkeys and that of the flower thrower, this has the addition of changes the bunch of flowers to 'Wilson', Tom Hanks 'friend' in  film Castaway.

In fact its more of a spoof than an imitation, whatever it is though the Hanksy artist also remains anonymous just like Banksy!

Here is a brief interview posted on Scallywagandvagabond.com  (After weeks of trying to track him down)

Hanksy work is also showing at the New York Krause Gallery from 13th - 31st Jan for anyone wanting a closer look

(Gallery Images - Bowery Boogie)

Back in December we covered how The Art Series Hotel Group in Australia had come up with an ingenious bit of marketing by inviting anyone that checked into one of their hotels the opportunity to steal the 'No Ball Games' Banksy print. See more of that story on our 'Steal A Banksy Legally' story.

Well it only took 4 days for somebody to walk out with it and i've gotta say the way they did it was very impressive, some serious blagging was involved!

Here's how Maura Tuohy, aided by her accomplice Megan Aney managed to do it.

1. Check in to the hotel with night Duty Manager

2. Spend the night researching the names of all the people involved in the Steal Banksy competition (Hotel, marketing, publicists)

3. In the morning report to the morning Duty Manager saying that you’re from the Hotel’s publicity agency and that you’re here to move the Banksy to the next hotel.

4. Answer all the grueling questions from the staff to verify your story, reeling off all the necessary names of the people who sent you. (Extremely well done guys!)

5. Have your accomplice on the phone pretending to be “xxxx” from the Art Series Hotel wanting to speak to the Duty Manager to verify the move.

6. Have the hotel verify that it is indeed legitimate and walk you and the Banksy to your fictitious car.

7. Since you don’t have a car ask the staff to grab some towels and bubble wrap to package it for a safe journey leaving you alone with the Banksy.

8. Remove high heels and run to the lift

9. Put high heels back, have a nice man hold the lift for you as you enter and head back to the lobby

10. Walk straight out the front door whilst the other staff wave goodbye, say thanks and apologise for all the security questions!

Steal A Banksy In Pictures

Here are some of the security images from The Art Series Hotel

Don't be too gutted though if you were planning on getting yourself down there to practice your thieving skills! They have put up another Banksy! Yup they have
'Pulp Fiction' hanging on the walls of one of their hotels until 15th January when the promotion finishes.

Reports have been going around though that they have had it hung on the wall behind the reception desk in one of the hotels so good luck if you are going to have to do some sneaky shit to get that away!

Take a look at this great little QnA session with Banksy over at his website, obviously wanting to clear a few things up with all the rumours and gossip that is knocking about on the internet. He also sheds a bit of light on the Robbo situation with this answer:

Did you paint over Robbo’s piece and have him beaten up?
His piece in Camden had been dogged for more than five years by the time I painted that spot. It’s a real shame about his accident and I hope he fully recovers. I would never deliberately cuss Robbo – he’s a graffiti legend.
And he’s bigger than me.

Click here to see the lot!

Just a little update to some of the recently added pieces to the Banksy website, although many will have seen them before. The dolphin ride is a stroke of genius, it was put up around August 2010 and was a working ride. I have included the video, titled Pier Pressure' here as well so you can see where it was originally on the Brighton seafront. Still people take a ride on it, oh dear....

Banksy Fallen Soldier

Just came across this on the Banksy website and it made me laugh, its actually prett cool as well, if these were for sale i would definiely by one!

I wonder if this will be an ongoing series of Banksy 'build your own' products! No doubt we will see this for sale somewhere soon..

The Banksy.co.uk website has recently updated with new images from around the UK with a few of them backing up recent claims of Banksy art.

There is also a great qna with Banksy as well with him answering some of the most asked questions as well as clearing up the rumour mill that surrounded the Banksy Vs Robbo 'feud'

CCTV Ostrich outside the National Gallery

Plane Sky Writing In Liverpool

Lifestyle - Poplar, London

Dhop Till You Dro? Mayfair, London

This was first spotted a couple of weeks ago as reported on the new Banksy Stencil found post

No Stopping London

Planning Permission in Liverpool

One thing for sure, Banksy has definitely been busy! Its good to see new work pop up especially when it is confirmed by the man himself.

Banksy entered the Turnip Prize again this year. If you don't know what the Turnip Prize is here is a little intro taken from their website:

"The Turnip Prize is the antidote to the Turner Prize, an art competition based in the UK which annually dazzles the public of the World with a dire tribe of pseudo artistic litter. As the artistic press gasp and feign in awe as a line of what appears to be a line degenerates and fruitcakes queue up in front of the world to give verbose justifications about how their "piece" should be "appreciated" by everyone and what "inspired" it. The rest of us just stand gaping at the wanton peddling of crap and are then astonished as some "more money than sense" business man snaps up the winner's output for hundreds of thousands.

Lets face it, the Turner prize set out to be new, innovative and shocking, maybe even anti establishment. Now it is the establishment, if they wanted to be really shocking they should give it to someone who actually shows some talent and ability (and someone normal with no obvious outward psychological problems)...."

So basically they are taking the piss out of The Turner Prize and by setting up their own Turnip Prize where there are only 3 requirements for all entries:

1.) Lack of effort
2.) Alliteration or pun used in title
3.) Is it shit?

If your effort looks to have had too much effort put into it then it will be disqualified!

So what was the latest piece submitted by Banksy? Here it is...

Did he win? No this was deemed that there was too much effort put in, the 2011 winner is below with his piece named “Jamming with Muddy Waters” (A large jar containing muddy water and jam)

Yup, you read that right! The Art Series Hotel group, based in Australia, is hiding the Banksy print 'No Ball Games' print they bought for $15,000 somewhere in one of their hotels and are inviting guests to try and steal it!

If you manage to get the print out of the hotel they will let you keep it and you won't get arrested! If you get caught they just hand it back up, and you still don't get arrested! Now this sounds like a great bit of fun!

Obviously this is all part of a wider marketing campaign to get more guests through the doors in what is a quiet period for them but i love the idea.

So what's the catch? Well, all you have to do is stay at the hotel between the 15th December and the 15th January. You can't just turn up off the street you do have to be a guest and the only downside will be that it could be in any of the hotels. You would have to stay in one for the full 4 weeks to guarantee it coming to the one you are staying in!

Anyway i love the idea! What do you think? How would you sneak a Banksy print past security without getting caught?

Has Banksy decided to reach out and 'light a candle' for Robbo?

With King Robbo currently in hospital after falling into a coma following an accident it is thought that the site of the much publicised feud between Banksy and Robbbo has been restored to its original Robbo tag but this time with the aerosol candle in addition.

This appeared a few weeks ago in November 2011 and is thought to have been done by Banksy after the pair had 'battled' over the Regents Canal, Camden wall. It is well documented the lengths each went to in order to get the upper hand making this one of the most famous graffiti walls in the UK.

Images Courtesy of Streetartlondon.co.uk