Urban Street Art by Banksy and Invader Lead Julien’s Auctions

Banksy, Untitled Police Van Chimp 2003. One of the urban street art at the auction. Stencil painting, aerosol on glass van window. Approximately 24 x24 inches. Photo: Julien’s Auctions.

Iconic urban street art masterpieces from Banksy and Invader shine at Julien’s Auctions’ Street Art event.

BY ARTCENTRON NEWS

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA —Julien’s Auctions recently auction aptly titled “Street Art,” once again demonstrating the genre’s formidable presence in the global art market. This auction featured masterpieces from two groundbreaking figures in the art world: Banksy and Invader. Their works captivated art enthusiasts worldwide, alongside pieces from 20 other prominent urban street artists. They include RETNA, Jamie Reid, Jeff Hamilton, Fraser, Jorge Jimenez-Deredia, and Louis Waldon.

The urban street art auction, held in Los Angeles with a live audience and attracting hundreds of online bidders and collectors worldwide, garnered significant attention, with Banksy and Invader’s pieces stealing the spotlight.

Banksy’s auction highlights included four renowned pieces that showcased his signature thought-provoking and often controversial style. Among them was “Turf War-Police Van Chimp,” an original aerosol painting on glass from his groundbreaking 2003 exhibition. It sold for $222,250, doubling its original estimate of $100,000. Another standout was Gangsta Rat Live, an original aerosol on a metal door from Liverpool, England. It fetched $190,500, over two times its estimated value of $80,000. Additionally, Banksy’s aerosol painting on a car door from the “Crazy Horse” installation in New York sold for $162,500, and “Mayfair Paparazzi Rat,” an original aerosol painting from London, sold for $142,875, over three times its estimated value of $40,000.

Invader: Five Famous Mosaics

French street artist Invader also made a significant impact at the auction with five famous mosaics that exceeded their original estimates by at least threefold. “POTI-50,” installed in Potosí, Bolivia, in 2022 to celebrate his 4,000th mosaic, sold for $29,250, nearly five times its estimated value of $6,000. “PA_605” from Paris, France, in 2005 sold for $25,400, three times its estimated value of $8,000. “PA-595” from Paris, France, in 2014 sold for $19,500, nearly five times its estimated value of $4,000. “MLGA-15” from Malaga, Spain, circa 2017, sold for $25,400, over eight times its estimated value of $3,000. Lastly, “PA-877” from Montreuil, France, in 2010, sold for $29,250, nearly five times its estimated value of $6,000.

The success of this auction underscores the enduring influence and appeal of urban street art in contemporary culture. The works of Banksy and Invader, in particular, continue to captivate audiences and command high prices, illustrating the evolution of street art from a subversive form of expression to a mainstream art movement. As street art continues to evolve, its impact on art and culture is poised to remain significant for years to come.