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54 Private Air Luxury Homes ARTS & COLLECTIBLES M ost people know about Banksy. is incognito street artist's creations first appeared in Bristol, England and later became the talk of London – his subversive, iconic stencils surfacing all over the capital. But now he has a new challenge from a younger, female street artist just arrived on the scene. Her name is Bambi. e artistic style is similar to Banksy's, and so are many of Bambi's messages. However, the welcome news for modern art collectors is that her work is more readily available to purchase than her male counterpart's. Who is Bambi? Bambi and her global representatives, Walton Fine Arts London, are extremely wary about the information they divulge. It's known that Bambi is in her mid-thirties, and that she studied at St Martins in London – one of the country's most reputed centers of artistic studies. ere has been much speculation over her true identity, but as yet no one has managed to reveal details of the gifted artist. Even a fervent investigation by the magazine Gracia proved fruitless. As for Bambi herself, it's clear that she wants her art to do the talking. Inspired by the styles of Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein, Bambi's artworks are bold, vivacious designs that immediately catch the eye. She works with stencil and spray-paint on paper, as well as creating one-of-a-kind works on canvas, metal and mixed media. Her work is accessible, while also challenging perceptions. Inspiration Politics and popular culture fuel Bambi's inspiration. e racy I'm too hot for my burka – a black and white depiction of a young woman sporting a bikini – is a direct response to comments made by the then- French president Nicolas Sarkozy. A stencil of the Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei was created in protest at his imprisonment. is Can't Happen is a striking image of North Korean dictator Kim Jong- un, riding a missile. Bambi has her finger on the pulse of current global politics, painting what she feels as well as what she sees. Equally, Bambi's work can be lighthearted. Diamonds are a girl 's best friend is an affectionate presentation of Elizabeth II in her coronation robes, posed like the Queen of Diamonds in a pack of playing cards. Another Bambi top-seller is her stencils of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. Royalty, feminism, and a pervading sense of Britishness are recognizable Bambi traits. Nevertheless, her fan base is international – and growing. Investment ere have already been two official exhibitions of Bambi's work, and it attracts an affluent, often celebrity clientele. Robbie Williams, Adele, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie are cited among Bambi's many fans and collectors. e artist has also been commissioned by celebrities for specific pieces of work. Kate Moss asked the artist to create a personal portrait styled after Andy Warhol's Marilyn – for a reputed sum of $82,000 – while Rihanna head-hunted Bambi to paint a giant portrait of her best friend Cara Delevingne in her home. Not all of Bambi's artworks are for sale. After all, she cut her artistic teeth creating stencils on the streets of her north London stomping ground, and these cannot appear at auction. However, there's a growing body of work which is available to collectors, and it is growing in value every day. e artist has many messages to put across, but her message to art collectors is clear. Buy Bambi now, as her work will only increase in value. To inquire about purchasing or commissioning a Bambi, visit waltonfinearts.com or call +44 20 7581 2332. By: Will Noble BAMBI Own a Slice of Street Art History

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