Two prints of Girl With Balloon are among Banksy artwork being auctioned in the US. The 2004 pieces have been put on sale for 60,000 to 80,000 dollars (£45,933 to £61,244) by Julien’s Auctions, and come from the collection of the artist’s former agent and photographer Steve Lazarides.
A previous sale of another version of Banksy’s Girl With Balloon was destroyed at a Sotheby’s auction in October 2018, and became the work Love Is In The Bin. Last month, a separate print of Girl With Balloon was also stolen from Grove Gallery in London, before being recovered by police.
The new auction has some of Banksy’s earliest known works including a pink stencil of a a rat holding a drill in a motorboat, on sale with an estimate of 100,000 to 200,000 dollars (£76,529 to £153,057), and a depiction of a rioter throwing flowers called Love Is In The Air which has been put up for bidding at 40,000 to 60,000 dollars (£30,622 to £45,933).
Darren Julien, co-founder and executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said: “This astonishing collection assembled and lovingly kept for over 25 years by his closest associate and partner, Steve Lazarides, offers an unprecedented look at the history and path of the man that would become the world’s most famous and visionary artist named Banksy.
“This auction featuring many of Banksy’s earliest works, most recognizable pieces and personal effects is a historic opportunity for the next caretaker to own the most comprehensive and definitive archive of Banksy’s legacy.”
From more than 150 items being auctioned are also items worn by the Bristol street artist such as a pair of Puma brand shoes embroidered with “Turf War” for an exhibition. Several police officer swearing works titled Rude Copper, a chimpanzee stencil, a hooded figure painting, a Radar Rat print, and the shoes are all up for auction at 40,000 to 60,000 dollars (£30,622 to £45,933) each.
Also part of the California-based sale are concept sketches featuring a dominatrix with Banksy’s notes on it, the Queen Vic work, a Laugh Now print, burner phones that Lazarides used to contact Banksy, a handwritten mission statement from former Banksy print publisher Pictures On Walls and a Burning Police Car drawing.
“Banksy, myself, and a couple of others, set up a company called Pictures On Walls and like we really wanted to make cheap affordable art for the masses,” Lazarides said. “For a very short moment in time we made a difference, we made it OK for ordinary people to like art… It’s by far the proudest thing I’ve done. And by far the most powerful thing I think he’s done.”
Under Duress: The Banksy Archive of Steve Lazarides will be held at Julien’s Studios in Western Avenue, Gardena on October 31.