Banksy’s iconic Monkey Detonator sells for £97,250 at Bonhams Urban Art sale
LONDON.- Several works by the renowned graffiti artist Banksy were sold yesterday evening (21 September 2011) in a packed saleroom at Bonhams, New Bond Street, as part of its Urban Art sale. Leading the way was a work featuring one of Banksy’s most iconic images, the monkey, entitled Monkey Detonator, which had attracted a pre-sale estimate of £70,000 – 90,000, and was sold for £97,250. Executed in 2000, this canvas displays the typically dark sense of humour which has endeared Banksy to both art collectors and the general public.
In a sale that realised £534,700 in total with 95% sold by value, competitive bidding was also in evidence on other original Banksy’s featured in the sale. Particularly impressive prices were paid for Balloon Girl (estimate £20,000 – 30,000), which sold for £55,250; Precision Bombing (£20,000); and HMV Dog (£13,750).
- Bonhams employee Karl Persson jokingly poses with artist Bansky’s work “Monkey Detonator” at Bonhams auction house in London. REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
Another star of the sale was American contemporary artist and graphic designer, Shepard Fairey. Best-known for his iconic Barack Obama Change poster in support of Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, he has recently featured in the first major US museum exhibition of the history of graffiti and street art at The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles. Top prices were paid for Duality of Humanity (£32,450); Chinese Soldier (£25,000); and Commandante 1, 2, 3 and 4 (£19,375).
Bidders were also keen to do their bit for charity. Five works donated by artists including Swoon, Fairey, Matt Small and Sweet Toof fetched a total of £35,875 in aid of Zamcog, a UK-based charity supporting The Shitima School in Zambia. Swoon’s Ice Queen (estimate £4,000 – 6,000) was sold for £13,750; Fairey’s Tyrant Boot, £8,750; and Matt Small’s Untitled, £4,750.
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