Earlier this year funds raised by Banksy went toward bail for two jailed members of the Russian art collective Voina (WAR). Leonid Nikolayev and Oleg Vorotnikov were charged with 'aggravated hooliganism' following a Voina action named "Palace Revolution." In the course of the action some police cars were overturned. The pair were incarcerated in St Petersburg's notorious Kresty prison pending trial.

Guardian:

Members of Voina (the war) – two of whom are awaiting trial on hooliganism charges – whitewashed the decoration on a bridge in St Petersburg last June. When the bridge was raised the erect phallus faced the local headquarters of the FSB, the successor to the KGB.

The work, entitled A Dick Held Prisoner at the FSB, was awarded the 400,000 rouble (£8,700) 2010 Innovation prize by the National Centre for Contemporary Arts in Moscow on Thursday evening.

Original works by Banksy will be on show at the Andipa Gallery in Knightsbridge, London, from April 23 to May 16.

Although not all of the pieces at the Andipa are new, there is a wide range of work on show. The largest canvas - Are You Using That Chair - is over 4 meters in length. It's based on Edward Hopper's 1942 work Nighthawks.

Unlike some earlier Banksy exhibitions, work at Andipa is for sale. Banksy productions can be pricey. At the Bonhams auction in 2008, his Kate Moss portrait went for 96,000 British pounds - roughly $140,000 US.

Beneath are a few works included in the Andipa exhibition.

A faux pet store at 89 7th Avenue in the West Village of NYC, has a visual treat in store for those who can actually find the place. It only opened a few days ago, and the 'pets' on display are animatronic creations by Banksy, the elusive graffiti artist.

The somewhat anonymous graffiti artist Banksy must get fed up with attempts to out him. A while back some media outlets announced that his real name was Robert or Robin Banks. The most recent claim by the UK paper Mail on Sunday, is that his name is Robin Gunningham.

There have been repeated claims of "Banksy sightings." He was even allegedly interviewed by Simon Hattenstone of the Guardian. He's a bit like the urban equivalent of Big Foot. Signs and reports provide proof of his existence, but actually cornering the man himself is no easy trick.

If the Mail report is to be believed, Banksy hails from Bristol where it is alleged he attended the Bristol Cathedral School - a fairly posh establishment by the standards of British comprehensives.

The article claims that a photo taken in Jamaica back in 2004 of a graffiti artist at work with spray cans, is none other than Banksy. Former school friends of Robin Gunningham claim that the guy in the photo is the Robin they attended school with. Banksy's agents refuse to confirm the Mail story. A spokesperson for the artist claimed that they "never confirm or deny these stories."

Despite the absence of the artist-in-the-flesh, Banksy's work is in demand. A piece of his graffiti on the Portabello Road in west London received a bid of around $415,000 in an online auction.

Celebrities such as Angelina Jolie and Christina Aguilera are fans of his work, something that is likely to be lost on Banksy who has a refreshing cynicism about the art market. On his website he had an image of an auction house showing people bidding on a piece that said: "I Can't Believe You Morons Actually Buy This Shit."

But buy they do. A 2007 Sotheby's auction of three of Banksy's works saw his Bombing of Middle England going for $205,000. Ballerina With Action Man Parts sold for $193,000.

Banksy uses stencils for his graffiti. They are transferred onto sheets of acetate or card, then cut by hand. It is thought that at least some of the images are computer generated.

Banksy's work has a satirical edge. It is often subversive of the surroundings - an example of this is the brilliant work he did on the Israeli West Bank barrier. There is an image of a ladder going up and over the wall and a group of children digging a hole through the wall.