Summary
"Have A Nice Day" is a 2005 Banksy screen print showing a single armoured military tank, antenna raised, centred between two symmetrical rows of black-clad riot police in helmets and visors, all standing rigidly to attention. Beneath this menacing display of state force runs the cheerfully ironic caption "Have a nice day," a hallmark of Banksy's deadpan, anti-war wit. This Artist Proof from an edition of 32 sits among his sharper, more overtly militarised images of the Stencil Boom era.
Why It Matters
The print distils Banksy's anti-war and anti-authoritarian politics into a single jarring contrast: overwhelming military and police machinery set against a banal greeting-card slogan. By weaponising the language of customer-service pleasantry, Banksy underscores the way official violence is normalised and packaged as routine, an idea that resonated strongly during the mid-2000s amid the Iraq War and heightened anxieties about state power, surveillance, and policing of protest. It is a clear example of how he uses humour and familiar pop phrasing as a delivery system for serious political critique.
Collector Perspective
As a signed Artist Proof from an edition of only 32, this is a notably scarce variant within Banksy's printed output, sitting well outside the larger signed and unsigned regular editions that dominate the market. AP designation and the artist's signature both add a premium over standard examples, and provenance tied to Pictures on Walls (Banksy's print publisher of the era) supports authentication and confidence at resale. Banksy prints in general enjoy deep, liquid demand, but condition, full documentation, and a Pest Control certificate are decisive for a piece at this level; buyers should expect strong competition and verify paperwork carefully before transacting.
Historical Context
Produced in 2005, during what is often called Banksy's Stencil Boom era, the image belongs to a run of works in which he turned his stencil technique toward militarism and policing. The tank-and-riot-police composition references the visual language of state crowd control and armed force that was prominent in news coverage of the period, including the ongoing Iraq War and contemporaneous debates over protest, security, and authority. Many Banksy prints of this moment were issued through Pictures on Walls, the London outfit that handled his editioned screen prints.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A single military tank with its antenna raised, centred between two symmetrical rows of black-clad riot police standing at attention, with the ironic caption 'Have a nice day' printed below.
Is this print signed or unsigned?
This is a signed example, designated as an Artist Proof (AP).
How large is the edition?
The edition size is 32, making this a particularly scarce Banksy print, and AP examples sit outside the numbered run.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, produced in 2005.
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-establishment imagery, with editioned prints published through Pictures on Walls.
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.