Skip to Content
Art

Walmart Steals Eddie Colla Image, Calls it Banksy

Screen Shot 2013-12-02 at 9.12.41 AM

California artist Eddie Colla, who has been up in the streets of L.A. for a decade, recently had one of his images "appropriated" by WalMart and sold as a "Banksy" to unsuspecting customers of the world-destroying mega-chain. To retaliate, the artist has created a print celebrating the cognitive dissonance created by Wal Mart's use of his image. He explains more in this interview with 1XRUN. Full details on the print to follow...

1xRun: It’s been a few years since you create this image and slogan – did you ever think it would be hijacked by Walmart and labeled a BANKSY?

Eddie Colla: That’s the irony, isn’t it? I made a piece about individuals controlling their own fate and not making their success contingent on the approval of others. It then gets adopted by a neo-feudal corporation like Walmart. A corporation whose employment practices have created a 2 million person underclass in this country. That’s where this becomes an issue of conviction. Walmart waves American Flags, kowtows to a hypocritical right wing Christian ideology but that’s merely a marketing strategy. If Walmart actually believed in any part of that ridiculous rhetoric they would certainly never put work by an artist like me in their stores.

First off, I’m a vandal, (although I prefer the term “graphic criminal”) and the piece they are selling encourages that kind of behavior wholeheartedly. Politically, I am anti-military, anti-gun, pro-choice, pro same-sex marriage, pro immigration reform. I could go on. So why would they sell work by someone who stands in opposition to their most strongly held values? The answer is simple, it’s all bullshit, a facade to appeal to a gullible consumer base. My favorite example of their hypocrisy is a Sheryl Crow CD that Walmart banned in their stores. The CD was banned not because of explicit language because of lyrics that made reference to Walmart’s sale of guns. The CDs were taken off shelves, the guns stayed. In the eyes of Walmart, the criticism was dangerous not the assault rifles they sell. In a corporate landscape void of ethics, values and steered by greed Walmart is right up there with the biggest douche bags in the game. Pick any problem our country faces. At some point it will intersect with Walmart. Whether it’s gun violence, a widening economic gap, environmental issues, outsourcing manufacturing, lack of health care access etc. Walmart is right there on the wrong side of history. As far as the Banksy thing, that’s just ignorance. It’s common when a group of people try to cash in on something they know little or nothing about. All they see is an opportunity to exploit something and make some money. They see a stencil and call it a Banksy. I’ve seen Dolk, Blek le Rat, Above and a bunch of other artists pieces labeled as Banksy’s.

eddie_colla_walmart_1xrun_email

The print is available for a limited time from 1XRUN.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

The Emotional Toll of Moving Back To Altadena

This is what it’s like to move back to Altadena right now—yes it’s empty lots and the remnants of devastation all around but it’s also people like Rafa, his neighbors, and their advocates coming together to create resilience, equity, and local control in the face of displacement and disaster capitalism.

July 29, 2025

‘A Monument to Corporate Greed:’ Elon Musk’s Tesla Diner Fuels Protests In L.A.

“Tesla Takedown” demonstrations were held in front of Elon Musk's new diner in Hollywood, fueled by frustration at the tech billionaire and Trump’s former right-hand man. More are planned for the future, the organizer told L.A. TACO.

July 29, 2025

DAILY MEMO: We’re Still Finding Abandoned Trucks and Vendor Carts While ICE Rips Men From Their Families and More

While ICE is busy ripping fathers away from their families, the feds are losing in court for making false claims. Legal experts also warn against trusting the feds self-deportation apps and more.

July 28, 2025

‘¿Donde Naciste?’ Como Detectar y Sobrevivir un ‘Encuentro Consensual’ de ICE en L.A.

Técnicamente, esta táctica para ejecutar detenciones de inmigrantes sigue siendo válida aunque un juez federal bloqueó las detenciones de ICE en Los Ángeles por motivos raciales hace tres semanas.

July 28, 2025

Estos Son Tus Derechos Para Observar, Grabar, Y Documentar a ICE Con tu Telefono

Es fundamental recordar que no todos los agentes o agencias se adhieren a los procedimientos legales establecidos. Siempre actúa legalmente y no supongas que alguien es un agente de ICE u otro tipo de agente federal, a menos que estés completamente seguro.

July 28, 2025

Que Hacer Si ICE Te Detiene En Un tu Automóvil, Un Autobús, o Un Tren

Conocer tus derechos te te puede proteger de un secuestro, registro o secuestro forzosa al ser detenido en Los Ángeles.

July 28, 2025
See all posts