Banksy's self-portrait fetches ??198,000 · 2007-04-26 12:51
A painting by cult “guerrilla artist” Banksy has sold for ??288,000 at auction – a new record for the artist.
Space Girl and Bird, which sold for 20 times its estimate, was commissioned by Blur for their Think Tank album cover.
It was sold to a telephone bidder from the US. Earlier, a Banksy self-portrait showing an ape’s face fetched ??198,000 – five times its estimated value, the BBC reported.
The previous record for one of Banksy’s works was ??102,000, paid for a picture of pensioners bowling with bombs.
“Today’s auction demonstrates just how much art by Banksy has skyrocketed in value. Clearly he is an artist in huge demand,” Charles Dupplin, an art expert from insurance company Hiscox said.
“To have the previous record set by the artist broken twice in quick succession reveals how much fascination there is in Banksy by collectors.”
Banksy, from Bristol, made his name with stencilled graffiti and subversive stunts in public spaces but fiercely guards his true identity.
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