Money in the Banksy

In 1998 an English friend of mine was riding his Vespa through Shoreditch in the wee hours of a Saturday morning when he noticed a strikingly painted mural on the wall up ahead. He also noticed that a large chunk of the work was painted on a piece of wood attached to the wall.

Lot 285 - Girl with Balloon screenprint, and Lot 290 - Love Rat screenprint

Being an enterprising type with a true appreciation of the word “free,” he pulled out his trusty screwdriver, removed the painted wood and took it home on the back of his scooter. Fifteen years later, with a few more mouths to feed, he sold the piece on for 75,000 pounds. The mural was by Banksy.

Lot 292 - Pulp Fiction screenprint

Banksy, the English-based graffiti artist, political activist and film director, is clearly one of the most polarizing artists of his generation. Starting out in Bristol in the early 1990s, he has taken his works of political and social commentary to streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. His identity remains unknown.

Lot 286 - Grannies screenprint

On Saturday, November 12, London’s Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions give bidders the chance to own their own Banksy when they offer works by the great artist in their Editions & Works on Paper sale. Thirteen screenprints are set to go under the hammer, offering collectors both old and new an extremely affordable opportunity to snare a truly significant piece of art. All have been authenticated and many signed and dated, so competition is sure to be fierce.

Lot 288 - HMV Dog screenprint

Dreweatts & Bloomsbury Auctions’ Editions & Works on Paper sale is 500 lots strong and contains art work at all price points.