Gangsta Rat is part of Banksy’s celebrated series of rats symbols he uses to represent resilience, marginalisation, and subversive energy. Swift, elusive, and prolific, rats serve as stand-ins for society’s underdogs, capable of thriving in hostile environments.

Originally created as a stencil graffiti work, Gangsta Rat was first released as a screenprint by Pictures on Walls in 2004, in an edition of 150 signed and 350 unsigned prints in vivid red. The image, showing a rat wielding a ghetto blaster and spray can, nods to “gangsta” style, a cultural trend that transcended music to become an international fashion statement.

In 2015, Banksy revisited the work at Dismaland in Weston-super-Mare, producing rare colour variants for VIP collectors, including editions in pink, mint green, orange, blue, and grey. These special releases added to the print’s notoriety and enduring appeal.