Seen the results of the Sotheby's contemporary Art auction yesterday? Banksy had 5 lots:
Lot 501 Gansta Rat a/p Guide Price 4,000-6000 GBP....sold for 18,000GBP.
Lot 509 Every Day a Fresh Load of Comprimise, Guide price 8,000 - 12,000GBP...sold for 25,200GBP.
Lot 510 Drip Dinner, Guide price 10,000 - 15,000 GBP...sold for 16,800GBP.
Lot 516 MONA LISA 15,000 - 20,000GBP...sold for 57,600GBP. and Lot 658 Kate Moss 6xsigned screen prints (editions of 20) guide price 10,000 - 15,000GBP...went for 50,400GBP. ;D

Not bad at all!

those prices include the 20% buyer's premium I think.

Actually a lot of people were very disappointed at the price and the interest shown....

Article in this evenings "London Lite"



He was initially dismissed by many in the art world as a maverick prankster but now graffiti artist Banksy has established himself as a modern art heavyweight in the auction houses.

The reclusive artist broke his own record at auction yesterday when his unique take on Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa was sold for £57,600 to a UK-based private collector at Sotheby's Olympia Contemporary Art sale and a Kate Moss series made another £50,000.

The prices confounded those present, given the pre-sale estimate for the Mona Lisa was £15,000 to £20,000. The bidding frenzy led to Banksy more than doubling his previous highest price for a piece, £21,000, which was set at another Sotheby's Olympia auction last June.

In his version of the Mona Lisa, Banksy used his familiar stencil technique to depict the famous subject with spray paint dripping from her eyes.

A Metropolitan Police evidence tag is attached to the stretcher at the back of the picture.

Collectors were not content with just his reinterpretation of Da Vinci's iconic work; a set of six prints of Kate Moss - portrayed in the style of Andy Warhol's Marilyn Monroe series - fetched just over £50,000 when they went under the hammer.

Elli Varnavides, contemporary art specialist at Sotheby's Olympia, said: "Of the five lots that we had for sale by Banksy, two of them ended up being our top sales. We were expecting a very impressive sale but because Banksy's record at auctions is relatively new, some people were unsure. But the outcome has been spectacular.

"The Kate Moss lot was also bought by a private collector. The estimate was £10,000 to £15,000, so it's quite sensational to go over five times the low estimate. I believe Kate Moss was happy about Banksy using her image in an iconic way."

Ms Varnavides added: "It's not often that we sell works with spray paints but we'll be seeing a lot more of Banksy as he seems to be building up a global presence. We are very excited about including works by him in his next sale in February."

Last month, Banksy held a show in Los Angeles that attracted Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Jude Law and Keanu Reeves. Jolie reportedly spent more than £200,000 on the Bristol-born artist's works. Banksy's previous efforts include creating a 3.5-tonne bronze of the Old Bailey's statue of Justice wearing thigh-high PVC boots and a suspender belt.

He also hung a "cave painting" of a primitive man pushing a shopping trolley, in the British Museum.

And on the website, an option to quote what you think (can we please make a point of spanking the board up and showing these evening standard reading (ooops - me obviously!) to**ers a thing or two!! - Copy and paste link:

www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23371394-details/Graffiti%20artist%20deposits%20ýý100,000%20%20in%20his%20banksy%20account/article.do?expand=true#StartComments


First and only comment :

"You can fool some of the people some of the time...
But these copies of copies will not keep their value, and I don't believe for one moment that serious collectors are shelling out serious cash for this junk.

In 20 years' time, no one will have heard of this pitiful charlatan who does not know the meaning of the word "Art" and who doesn't have the tiniest amount of talent. He should be the sub art-director of a giveaway magazine".

- Simon Cooper, London, England

Yet £11 on the Sotheby's website? Here's the details anyhow:

W06709 | London, Olympia 18 Oct 06
Contemporary Art

Publication Code: W06709
Price:
US Domestic: 18.00 USD
US Int'l: 21.00 USD
UK Domestic: 11.00 GBP
UK Int'l: 13.00 GBP

Oh well I walked into Sothebys New Bond Street about 5 pm yesterday and bought one for £4, it certainly wasn't the last one. The website prices are the pre sale prices, goes down to £4 after the sale. Worth giving them a ring on the number 0207 293 6444 or popping in if you are local

As I work round the corner I just popped into Sothebys and I'm affraid to say that I bought the very last one.

When I asked the man on the counter he said that there are definitely no more.

Didnt wanna start a new thread for this, but only just round to seeing this ad for HDTV, the previous one with balls was a lot better, but this ones a bit more relevant to post here, so here it is ;D

LOT 300

c,m - BANKSY
B. 1975

BALLERINA WITH ACTION MAN PARTS

15,000—20,000 GBP
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 96,000 GBP




LOT 323

m - BANKSY
B. 1975
UNTITLED

8,000—12,000 GBP
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 33,600 GBP





LOT 324

f,m - BANKSY
B. 1975
GLORY

20,000—30,000 GBP
Lot Sold. Hammer Price with Buyer's Premium: 72,000 GBP

in with the BIG boys now. ouch.

The ballerina is a great piece. Although, I'm tempted to question whether this ballerina was created by his hand only.

Edition of 6 I believe. And its been at least an hour hasn't it LW??

wow- those prices are mad. I simply can't participate in it any more.

:-(

Fair point. And there are still the rest of the LA prints to come- would love a morons.

:-)