Gauntlet Gallery — Banksy Prints
Flower Bomber (Original Color)
Work Summary & Collector Notes
Flower Bomber (Original Color) renders Banksy's most enduring image: a masked protester, cap pulled low and face covered with a bandana, frozen mid-throw in the posture of a rioter hurling a Molotov cocktail or brick — except his raised hand grips a vibrant bouquet of flowers instead of a weapon. The figure is executed entirely in Banksy's signature black-and-white stencil style, with the bunch of multicolored blooms providing the only burst of color. It is the color treatment of the artist's iconic peace-versus-aggression motif first stenciled on a Jerusalem wall and popularized through prints and the "Love Is in the Air" series.
Collector notes: Edition label was not stated, and total quantity was not documented in the saved record. Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Why It Matters
The image is arguably the single most recognizable piece of street-art iconography of the 21st century. By swapping a weapon for flowers, Banksy collapses the visual language of insurrection into an act of love, turning the photojournalistic cliche of the rioter at the barricade into a plea for peace. Originating from a 2003 stencil on the wall separating Israel and Palestine in Bethlehem, it functions as both anti-war statement and a broader argument that protest can be tender rather than violent. The motif has been endlessly reproduced, merchandised, and referenced, cementing its place as a defining symbol of Banksy's anti-establishment, pacifist worldview.
Collector Perspective
"Flower Bomber" is the image most collectors enter Banksy with, which cuts both ways: demand is deep and constant, but the motif also exists across countless formats and licensed objects, so condition, provenance, and exactly which version you hold drive value enormously. Hand-signed, numbered POW (Pictures on Walls) editions sit at the top of the market and command serious prices; unsigned editions and later or licensed reproductions are far more accessible but should not be confused with the artist-released prints. Because edition size and medium for this specific "Original Color" listing are not documented here, a buyer should verify the publisher, signature status, numbering, and any certificate before assigning a tier.
Historical Context
The motif debuted around 2003, when Banksy stenciled the masked flower-thrower on walls in Bethlehem near the Israeli West Bank barrier — a direct response to that conflict and to the wider post-9/11, Iraq War era of heightened militarism. It became a centerpiece of his pacifist imagery and was disseminated through the "Love Is in the Air" prints and, later, a wide range of color and monochrome treatments. This 2016 "Original Color" iteration belongs to the Contemporary era and reflects the continued circulation and re-presentation of the image more than a decade after the original wall piece, by which point the flower-thrower had become a global shorthand for peaceful resistance.
Documented Release Details
- Object type
- Editioned print or object
- Release date
- 2016
- Release-date note
- Catalog-listed release year from the saved secondary record; primary release-page confirmation remains pending.
- Medium and materials
- Medium and materials were not documented in the saved record.
- Edition details
- Edition label was not stated, and total quantity was not documented in the saved record.
- Signature and marks
- Edition-specific signature, numbering, and stamp details were not stated in the saved release record. Verify signing and numbering against a documented example of this edition.
Documented History and Meaning
History note: This page treats Banksy's broader career as background context, not proof that this specific edition belongs to any single exhibition or event. Release-level facts here come from a saved secondary catalog record.
Meaning / interpretation: Read as documented context rather than stated intent: The motif debuted around 2003, when Banksy stenciled the masked flower-thrower on walls in Bethlehem near the Israeli West Bank barrier — a direct response to that conflict and to the wider post-9/11, Iraq War era of heightened militarism. This is an interpretive reading of the release context, not a statement of the artist's intent for this specific work. This interpretive note follows the cited artist or publisher context.
Release context: The saved catalog lists 2016.
Authentication, Presentation and Provenance
- Original presentation
- Original packaging or presentation was not documented in the release sources reviewed.
- Authentication note
- Compare the support, dimensions, edition number, and signature against a documented example of this edition. Gauntlet Gallery does not authenticate works purchased from third parties.
- Provenance note
- Edition origin is attributed in the saved record to the release source named in the saved record. That does not establish the ownership history of an individual copy: retain the original invoice, reseller or gallery paperwork, labels, correspondence, and condition photographs.
Sources and Verification
Verification status: Secondary catalog snapshot; artist-level context added
- Banksy — Wikipedia · reference encyclopedia · Accessed 2026-07-13 · General artist-level biographical and career reference.
- Banksy (Q133600) — Wikidata · reference knowledge base · Accessed 2026-07-13 · Structured identifier used for the artist across catalog metadata.
FAQ
What does Flower Bomber depict?
A masked, capped protester in the classic stance of someone hurling a Molotov cocktail or brick, but instead of a weapon his raised hand throws a bunch of bright, multicolored flowers. The figure is in black-and-white stencil; the bouquet is the only color.
Is this the same as the Flower Thrower or Love Is in the Air?
Yes. The image is known by several names — Flower Bomber, Flower Thrower, and Love Is in the Air — and originates from Banksy's 2003 wall stencil in Bethlehem near the Israeli West Bank barrier.
What is the edition size?
The edition size for this specific Original Color listing is not documented in our records. Banksy editions vary widely, and hand-signed, numbered Pictures on Walls (POW) releases are far scarcer and more valuable than unsigned or licensed versions.
Is it signed?
Signature status is not specified for this listing.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is the anonymous England-based street artist who emerged from Bristol in the early 1990s, known for fast stencil work, dark humor, and anti-war, anti-capitalist, anti-establishment imagery — rats, monkeys, riot police, and children with balloons or weapons among his recurring motifs.
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