Last Wednesday, Bonhams hosted their September Urban Art Sale to a “packed house” at the New Bond Street location in Central London. As we highlighted the strength of some recent Banksy results in our overview and analysis of his Top 25 Most Expensive Works Ever, money appears to continue pouring into street art unimpeded at the auction level, despite the general malaise evident in the financial markets. This fact was further reinforced in the wake of last week’s Bonhams Sale, with the auction realizing a total of £534,700 ($839,303) and 95% of all lots selling.
Check out an overview of the more impressive and relevant results, some additional perspective, along with some event photos of the artwork in situ, after the jump.
“Banksy was the star of the sale,” conveyed Leonora Oldfield, from Bonhams. “All of his works sold, fetching above their estimates, showing that the appetite for Banksy continues.” A total of 13 works on offer by Banksy were auctioned, many achieving record prices specific for Bonhams. Despite the ever-humorous Monkey Detonator editioned canvas selling for £97,250 ($152,650), none got lofty enough to be added to AM’s list of Banksy’s record results. Nevertheless, the figures, especially for those for his screenprints, were particularly compelling and illustrate continued demand for the anonymous street art icon.
Easily the darkhorse standout of the night, however, was Shepard Fairey, a street art icon in his own right. Considering Fairey’s well-established fame and respect within the contemporary and urban art circles, he has surprisingly made very little waves in the auction world over the course of his artistic career. Aside from a massive 10x12ft Peace Goddess canvas that sold for $80,500 at a 2009 Sotheby’s sale, which stands at Fairey’s highest result ever, along with host of older prints, a handful of paper HPMs, and a two unique paper stencil collages (Arab Woman & Obey Flower) all sold at Saturday@Phillips in April 2009 above high estimates, there hasn’t been much in the way of auction offerings. In fact, Christie’s has never brokered anything by the celebrated artist.
Yet, that might change sooner than later. Earlier this year, there was strength in a different Peace Goddess work, a large screenprint on wood, offered during Bonhams January Urban Art Sale and selling for £27,600 ($42,890). Still, last week’s sale, and the impressive depth to the demand and muscle in the results, should very well serve as Shepard’s coming out party in the auction world. All 6 lots sold for well over their high estimates, collectively bringing in a total of £96,200 ($149,906), with his Duality of Humanity 2 paper stencil collage being the stand out at £32,450 ($50,935). Chinese Soldier, a rare acrylic painting executed by hand (sans stencil, spraypaint, or collage) in 1997, was also well received, selling for £25,000 ($39,241). Ultimately, these record results should make private collectors with work to unload as well as auction houses take notice.
Auction Results
Lot 1
Banksy (b.1975)
Pulp Fiction
signed, dated 03 and numbered 31/150
screenprint on paper
41 by 62 cm.
16 1/8 by 24 7/16 in.
Sold for £9,375 ($14,715) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 4
Blek Le Rat (b.1952)
Man That Walks Through Walls
signed and dated 2007; signed and dated 2007 on the reverse
spray paint on canvas, in a perspex box frame
200 by 130 cm.
78 3/4 by 51 3/16 in.
This work is from an edition of 3.
Sold for £16,250 ($25,507) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 10
Banksy (b.1975)
Monkey Queen
signed, dated 2003 and numbered 106/150
screenprint on paper
49 by 34 cm.
19 5/16 by 13 3/8 in.
Sold for £6,875 ($10,791) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 11
Banksy (b.1975)
HMV Dog
stencil spray paint on paper
54.5 by 37.5 cm.
21 7/16 by 14 3/4 in.
This work was executed in 2004.
Sold for £13,750 ($21,583) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 13
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Chinese Soldier
signed and dated 97 on the reverse
acrylic on canvas
91.5 by 122 cm.
36 by 48 1/16 in.
Sold for £25,000 ($39,241) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 24
Banksy (b.1975)
Very Little Helps
signed and numbered 203/299
screenprint on paper
50.6 by 37.4 cm.
19 15/16 by 14 3/4 in.
This work was executed in 2008.
Sold for £5,625 ($8,829) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 25
Banksy (b.1975)
Precision Bombing
signed with spray paint
spray paint on buff canvas laid on board, with various test stencils on the reverse
25.5 by 45.5 cm.
10 1/16 by 17 15/16 in.
Sold for £20,000 ($31,393) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 29
Faile (American)
Untitled
signed and dated 2007; signed and dated 2007 on the reverse
mixed media on wood panel
40 by 45 cm.
15 3/4 by 17 11/16 in.
Sold for £6,250 ($9,810) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 31
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Duality of Humanity 2
mixed media on paper
Image: 110 by 151 cm.
43 5/16 by 59 7/16 in.
This work was executed in 2008.
Sold for £32,450 ($50,935) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 36
Banksy (b.1975)
CND Soldiers
signed, dated 05 and numbered 87/350
screenprint on paper
71 by 48 cm.
27 15/16 by 18 7/8 in.
Sold for £13,125 ($20,601) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 48
Banksy (b.1975)
Watchtower Collaboration – Blu
signed by both artists
painted olive wood sculpture
Height: 24.5 cm.
9 5/8 in.
This work was executed in 2007.
Sold for £12,500 ($19,620) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Hostile Takeover New World Order
signed, dated 2007 and inscribed AP HPM; signed and dated on the reverse
screenprint on board
60.5 by 45.5 cm.
23 13/16 by 17 15/16 in.
Sold for £3,750 ($5,886) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 56
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Tyrant Boot
signed, dated 09 and inscribed 1/2 HPM; signed and dated 2009 on the reverse
mixed media and silkscreen on board
61 by 45.5 cm.
24 by 17 15/16 in.
Sold for £8,750 ($13,734) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 59
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Black Panther
signed, dated and inscribed 2/2 HPM in pencil; signed, dated and inscribed 2/2 HPM on the reverse
screenprint on board
60.5 by 45.5 cm.
23 13/16 by 15 15/16 in.
This work was executed in 2005.
Sold for £6,875 ($10,791) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 60
Banksy (b.1975)
Monkey Detonator
signed in stencil; signed in stencil and numbered 05/25 on the stretcher
stencil spray paint on raw hessian
91 by 91 cm.
35 13/16 by 35 13/16 in.
This work was executed in 2000.
Sold for £97,250 ($152,650) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 65
Faile (American)
Untitled
mixed media on wood box
51 by 30 by 10 cm.
20 1/16 by 11 13/16 by 3 15/16 in.
Sold for £2,500 ($3,924) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 76
Banksy (b.1975)
Love Is In The Air
signed and inscribed Jake thanks Banks
screenprint on paper
50 by 70 cm.
19 11/16 by 27 9/16 in.
This work was executed in 2003 and is an artist’s proof aside from the edition of 150.
Sold for £10,000 ($15,696) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 77
Banksy (b.1975)
Balloon Girl
signed with spray paint on the overlap; signed, inscribed HAPPY ANNIVERSARY and dated 2005 on the stretcher
spray paint on canvas
40.5 by 40.5 cm.
15 15/16 by 15 15/16 in.
Sold for £55,250 ($86,724) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Lot 78
Shepard Fairey (b.1970)
Comandante 1, 2, 3 and 4
Each: signed, dated 2002 and inscribed AP; signed, dated and inscribed AP on the reverse
four screenprints on board
Each: 61 by 46 cm.
24 by 18 1/8 in.
Overall: 122 by 92 cm.
48 1/16 by 36 1/4 in.
Sold for £19,375 ($30,412) inclusive of Buyer’s Premium
Installation photos via Silky
Auction results and images via Bonhams
