Banksy fans told not to expect art to 'shred or explode' at upcoming auction

Jacob Jarvis10 October 2018

An auctioneer selling multiple Banksy pieces has said not to expect the art to “shred or explode” after the anonymous painter’s recent stunt.

On Friday, October 5, an iconic painting of Girl With Balloon self-destructed the moment it sold at Sotheby’s in London for around £1million.

This was due to a shredder which Banksy later revealed he himself had built into the frame.

Just days later, a new auction of his work on November 19 in Los Angeles has been announced by Julien’s Auctions.

Banksy - In pictures

New Banksy artworks
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The business’ president, Darren Julien, said: “We can't guarantee that our four Banksy's will automatically shred or explode but they will sell to the highest bidder."

Works to go on sale include the mural Slave Labour, which depicts a young boy creating bunting at a sewing machine, valued at around £600,000.

It first appeared outside a Poundland in London’s Wood Green.

While other pieces include Crazy Horse, TV Girl and Applause.

Following the destruction of the Girl With Balloon canvas on Friday, Alex Branczik, head of contemporary European art at the auction house Sotheby’s, said: “It appears we just got Banksy-ed.”

He said that it is a situation that the auctioneers have never experienced before and discussions are ongoing with the bidder, who had agreed to pay a price of £1,042,000.

A post on Banksy's Instagram account showed the moment the art was shredded and left hanging in strips from the bottom of its frame.

The artist captioned a picture of shocked onlookers looking at the destroyed piece with the words: “Going, going, gone..."

Banksy artwork was shredded in front of stunned bidders at a Sotheby's auction
PA

However, despite the piece being shredded, some speculated the piece's value might have increased due to the destruction's place in art history.

Andrew Tetley, an art dealer who has bought and sold Banksy work for the last nine years, said this speculation was "debatable".

Speaking to the Standard, he said: "I think the shredded piece now occupies a unique place in the Banksy story, how much it’s specific value has increased is debatable.

"What I have seen is that enquiries to buy for Banksy’s work have increased noticeably since Friday night."

Banksy is a Bristol-born artist who came to prominence through a series of graffiti pieces on buildings across the country.

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