Summary
Thrower (First Edition (Grey)) is a 2019 grayscale screen print that deconstructs Banksy's most famous image — the masked protester hurling a bouquet of flowers instead of a Molotov cocktail — into a three-panel, separately framed arrangement. The large central oval panel holds the figure mid-throw in his cap and bandana, flanked by a left panel isolating the flower-clutching throwing arm and a right panel showing an outstretched pointing hand, all set in ornate antique-style gilt frames and rendered in monochrome grey with characteristic paint drips.
Why It Matters
The image at the heart of this work — known variously as Flower Thrower, Love Is in the Air, and Rage, the Flower Thrower — is arguably Banksy's single most recognizable composition, first appearing on a wall in Jerusalem and becoming a global shorthand for non-violent resistance: a rioter's aggressive throwing posture redirected toward a peaceful gesture. By splitting that icon into a triptych and dressing each fragment in gilded museum-style frames, this edition stages a deliberate tension between Banksy's anti-establishment street origins and the trappings of fine-art presentation, extending his long-running critique of how protest imagery gets commodified and institutionalized.
Collector Perspective
This is a 2019 screen print titled as the First Edition in the grey colorway, presented as a multi-panel framed set. The edition size is not documented here, so buyers should confirm the exact run, signed-versus-unsigned status, and accompanying paperwork directly from the seller before assigning value. Demand for any iteration of the Flower Thrower image is consistently strong because it is Banksy's signature motif, but value within his market is heavily stratified by edition size, signature, and provenance — a signed, numbered, paperwork-backed example commands a substantial premium over an unsigned or undocumented one. Treat this as a recognizable, liquid image whose specific price depends entirely on verifying those details.
Historical Context
The source image dates to the mid-2000s, when Banksy stencilled the flower-throwing rioter on a wall in the West Bank, and it has since been reproduced across prints, murals, and merchandise as an emblem of pacifist protest. This 2019 grey edition revisits that motif during a period when Banksy's market and public profile were peaking — the era of the self-shredding Girl with Balloon (2018), the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem, and his Gross Domestic Product homewares project — all of which similarly played the artist's anti-capitalist message against the mechanics of the art market. The triptych framing here echoes that same self-aware staging.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
It deconstructs Banksy's famous Flower Thrower / Love Is in the Air image into three framed grey panels: a central oval showing the masked protester in cap and bandana mid-throw, a left panel isolating the arm gripping a bouquet of flowers, and a right panel showing an outstretched pointing hand, all in ornate gilt frames.
What is the edition size?
The edition size for this First Edition (Grey) is not documented in our records. Buyers should confirm the exact run and numbering directly with the seller, as edition size strongly affects value in Banksy's market.
Is it signed?
Signature status is not specified here. Verify whether the example is signed or unsigned, and request any accompanying authentication or provenance paperwork before purchase, since signed examples command a significant premium.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, dated 2019, presented as a multi-panel framed set in the grey colorway.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist who emerged from Bristol in the early 1990s, known for fast stencil work, dark humour, and anti-war, anti-capitalist, and anti-establishment imagery, as well as high-profile stunts like the self-shredding Girl with Balloon and the Walled Off Hotel.
About the Artist
Banksy is an anonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose identity remains officially unconfirmed. Emerging from the Bristol underground scene in the early 1990s, he developed a fast, stencil-based technique for working in public space, pairing dark humour with anti-war, anti-capitalist and anti-establishment messages. Recurring motifs include rats, monkeys, riot police, and children with balloons or weapons. Many of his prints were published through Pictures on Walls and rank among the most heavily traded in the secondary market, while stunts such as the self-shredding Girl with Balloon, the Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem and the Gross Domestic Product homeware line have made him one of the most recognised artists in the world.
Collecting Banksy at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic Banksy prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of Banksy prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new Banksy prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across Banksy and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.