Banksy at Auction: A History of Major Sales from Bonhams to Sotheby's
Banksy's auction history is a condensed record of how the street art market evolved from outsider curiosity to institutional category in under two decades. The price trajectory — from early Bonhams sales in the low thousands to eight-figure results at Sotheby's — mirrors the broader legitimization of street art as a fine art category.
Key Milestones
2007: Banksy achieves six-figure results at Bonhams and Sotheby's for the first time. The market begins to understand the scarcity dynamics of authenticated Banksy editions.
2013: "Keep It Spotless" — a Damien Hirst spot painting with Banksy intervention — sells at Sotheby's for $1.87 million, establishing Banksy as a $1M+ market artist.
2018: "Girl with Balloon" is authenticated by Pest Control at Sotheby's London and sells for £1.04 million. Immediately after the gavel falls, the canvas partially shreds through a hidden mechanism in the frame. Sotheby's and the buyer complete the sale; the shredded version, renamed "Love Is in the Bin," subsequently sells in 2021 for £18.58 million — the highest price ever achieved for a Banksy work.
Current Auction Landscape
Phillips has become the dominant venue for mid-market Banksy prints and editions in the $50,000–$500,000 range. Sotheby's and Christie's focus on higher-value unique works. Bonhams handles a range including more accessible authenticated editions. For print collectors, Phillips is the most important venue to monitor.
