Back-to-back Banksy exhibits in Toronto divide fans of secretive street artist

Back-to-back Banksy exhibits featuring works by the secretive street artist are unfolding in Toronto.

But observers are torn over the way his subversive messages arebeing portrayed.

The first is a free, open-air show in the city's tony Yorkville Village, where two pieces have been installed amid a luxury retail strip home to designer brands that include Chanel, Tiffany and Prada.

The second is set to take over a factory space in anup-and-coming neighbourhood billed as an emerging art hub, however,many are balking at the $35entry fee being charged by promoters Live Nation and Starvox Exhibits.

The North American premiere of The Art of Banksy,beginning Wednesday and running to July 11, is a $35-millionexhibit of 80 original works curated by Banksy's former agent Steve Lazarides.

It's set to include famous images Balloon Girl,in which ayoung girl is letting go of a heart-shaped balloon; Flag Wall,described as an "urbanized take on the famous picture of soldiers raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima;" and Laugh Nowwords emblazoned on a sandwich board slung over a monkey.