Painted on a wall on Jeffrey Street in 2011, Banksy’s TOX is a mural that comments on street art culture and solidarity.

The piece was created as a nod to graffiti artist Daniel Halpin, known as Tox, and his tag. Tox gained fame between 2007 and 2010 for tagging across London, leading to over 40 arrests and earning the title of “London’s most jailed graffiti artist.” In 2011, he was sentenced to prison. Tox’s conviction highlighted the societal and legal pressures faced by graffiti artists.

In court, the prosecution mocked Tox as “no Banksy,” ridiculing the lack of artistic creativity in his tags. In response, Banksy crafted a stencil of a small child blowing the “TOX” tag like bubbles. The mural was placed right next to Tox’s tag on Jeffrey Street in Camden, where he lived, a notable choice that reflects Banksy directly engaging with another artist’s work.

The piece showcases Banksy’s playful wit and deep ties to London’s street art culture, while also serving as a manifesto questioning the societal perception of this art form.

The child, holding a red spray can, is rendered in Banksy’s signature black-and-white stencil aesthetic. The “TOX” lettering, depicted in a typography similar to Tox’s tag, can be seen as a tribute to him. At the same time, the bubbles suggest that Tox’s tag is perceived as a “game,” offering an ironic response to the court’s critique of its lack of artistic creativity.

The black censor bar across the child’s eyes can be interpreted as a metaphor for hidden identity and society rendering individuals invisible. It also symbolizes the anonymity street artists are forced to maintain due to legal pressures.

The artwork prompts viewers to reflect on the societal perception of street art and the struggles artists face within this realm.