A Palestinian boy walks past a drawing by British graffiti artist Banksy, along part of the controversial Israeli barrier near the Kalandia checkpoint in the West Bank in 2005. Photo / Reuters
LONDON - Eleven works by cult British artist Banksy exceeded their estimates on Wednesday at a London auction, underlining his ongoing appeal to contemporary art collectors.
According to the website for Bonhams auctioneers, 11 works fetched a total of 455,000 pounds (NZ$1.23m), compared with a pre-sale estimate of
around 300,000 pounds. Including buyers' premiums, the total rose to more than 500,000 pounds.
The star lot was Avon and Somerset Constabulary, a spray paint and oil canvas featuring two British policemen which fetched 80,000 pounds before premium and tax compared with a pre-sale estimate of 60-80,000.
Attack of the Badly Drawn Boy, expected to sell for 20-30,000 pounds but went under the hammer for 65,000 pounds (NZ$176,000).
"Today's results demonstrate that prices for Banksy's work continue to go from strength to strength," said Bonhams specialist Gareth Williams.
"Perhaps the most incredible aspect of the Banksy phenomenon ...(is) that as a self-confessed guerilla artist, he has been so wholeheartedly embraced by the very establishment he satirizes. We are sure that this irony is not lost on today's buyers."
Little is known about Banksy, who has managed to remain anonymous despite the commercial success of his works in recent years. Sotheby's hold the world record for a Banksy work of 322,900 pounds (NZ$877,450), including buyer's premium.
He has managed to remain anonymous and yet stay in the headlines for stunts including decorating Israel's controversial West Bank barrier and leaving a replica of a Guantanamo Bay detainee at the Disneyland theme part in the United States.
- REUTERS
