Banksy’s Balloon Girl, a Screenprint in black and red on wove paper was the top seller at Bonhams Prints and Multiples Sale. It sold for US$ 116,016. Image: Bonhams Auction.
BY KAZAD
LONDON– Balloon Girl, 2004, a screenprint in black and red, by Banksy, was the top seller as the recent Bonhams Prints and Multiples sale. Estimated at ยฃ40,000-60,000, the print sold for US$ 116,016 (ยฃ87,500), surpassing all estimation.
Balloon Girl is just one of the works by the British street artist sold at the Bonhams Prints and Multiples sale. In what looks like a Banksy day, many other works by the artist came up for auction and were immediately bought by collectors eager to add works by the graffiti artist to their collection. As expected, the competition among collectors helped Banksy’s works exceed their estimated prices.
One of the works that exceeded its estimated price is No Ball Games (Green). Estimated at ยฃ12,000-18,000, the painting sold for US$ 38,119 (ยฃ28,7500). Another print Pulp Fiction, a screenprint in colors from 2004, made US$ 31,490 (ยฃ23,750), surpassing a pre-sale estimate of ยฃ10,000-15,000.
For Lucia Tro Santafe, Bonhams Head of Prints and Multiples, the record making sales achieved by Banksy works shows the importance of the artist in art history. โThe high prices achieved yesterday for works by Banksy in our Prints and Multiples sale reinforces his importance in the contemporary art market and his global appeal,โ he said.
The news of the outstanding sale once again put Banksy in the news. In addition to the unauthorized on-going exhibition of the artist’s works in Toronto, one of Banksy’s works, Trolley Hunters was stolen even before the show opened. Steve Lazarides who was Banksyโs onetime gallerist and agent organized the show.
#1. Banksy (British, born 1975). Balloon Girl, 2004. Screenprint in black and red on wove paper. Sold for ยฃ 87,500 (US$ 116,016) inc. premium
#2. Pablo Picasso (Spanish, 1881-1973), Pichet ร glace, 1952, sold for ยฃ60,000 after a pre-sale estimate of ยฃ30,000-50,000
#3. Robert Longo, Men in Cities, 1990. The complete set of 5 lithographs, sold for ยฃ43,750, estimated at ยฃ22,000-32,000
#4. Pablo Picasso, Jose Delgado, La Tauromaquia, Ediciones de la Cometa, Barcelona, 1959. Sold for ยฃ 40,000 (US$ 53,035) inc. premium
#5. Damien Hirst (British, born 1965), Mickey (small) Screenprint in colors, 2014, on wove paper. Sold for ยฃ 35,000 (US$ 46,406) inc. premium.
#6. Yaacov Agam (Israeli/French, born 1928), Rainbow Rhythm 1994-1996. Polymorphic color screenprint on folded PVC and wood, Sold for ยฃ 30,000 (US$ 39,776) inc. premium.
#7. Banksy, No Ball Games (Green) 2009. Screenprint in colors. Sold for ยฃ 28,750 (US$ 38,119) inc. premium.
#08. Marc Chagall (Russian/French, 1887-1985). The Story of the Exodus, Lรฉon Amiel, Paris-New York, 1966 (Cramer Books 64; Mourlot 444-467). Sold for ยฃ 25,000 (US$ 33,147) inc. premium
#9. Andy Warhol (American, 1928-1987). Liz (Feldman & Schellmann II.7) 1964. Offset lithograph in colors on wove paper. Sold for ยฃ25,000 (US$ 33,147) inc. premium.
#10. Banksy, Pulp Fiction 2004. Screenprint in colors on wove paper, Sold for ยฃ 23,750 (US$ 31,490) inc. premium