Summary
An unsigned screen print from Banksy's 2003 Turf War edition, reworking the iconic black-and-white portrait of wartime British Prime Minister Winston Churchill by replacing his hair with a strip of bright green turf styled as a punk mohican. The image served as the signature motif for Banksy's breakthrough 2003 Turf War show in East London and stands among his most recognizable acts of establishment portraiture defacement.
Why It Matters
The print collides one of Britain's most revered national figures with the visual language of street-level rebellion, the turf mohican turning a statesman into a punk and puncturing the solemnity of national myth. It crystallizes Banksy's anti-establishment program: irreverence toward authority, sympathy for the disorderly, and a refusal to treat monuments as untouchable. As the emblem of the Turf War exhibition, the image is a key document of the moment Banksy moved from walls and stencils into a self-staged gallery event that drew mainstream attention.
Collector Perspective
This is the unsigned variant, which sits below the signed examples in both desirability and price, and the edition size for the unsigned run is not documented here, so buyers should verify specifics against the print and any accompanying paperwork. Provenance and authentication matter heavily for Turf War given its fame and the prevalence of unauthenticated copies; a Pest Control certificate is the key value driver. As a recognizable, named-show image with strong brand association, it carries real market interest, but as an unsigned piece it is a more accessible entry point rather than a blue-chip signed trophy.
Historical Context
Turf War was Banksy's landmark 2003 self-organized exhibition staged in a former warehouse in Hackney, East London, an event that included live painted animals and helped catapult him toward wider recognition. The Churchill image references the Allied war leader and enduring symbol of British resolve, with the title and turf mohican nodding both to the show's name and to the patch of green famously planted on Churchill's statue in Parliament Square during the 2000 May Day anti-capitalist protests. The work belongs squarely to Banksy's Stencil Boom era, when his fast stencil aesthetic and protest themes were defining UK street art.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
It depicts Winston Churchill in his familiar black-and-white portrait, but with his hair replaced by a strip of green turf shaped like a punk mohican, the signature image of Banksy's 2003 Turf War exhibition.
Is this print signed?
No. This is the unsigned variant of Turf War, which generally trades below the hand-signed examples from the same edition.
What is the edition size?
The edition size for this unsigned variant is not documented here. Buyers should confirm the exact figure against the print and any accompanying certification.
What medium is it?
It is a screen print, produced in 2003.
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-establishment messaging, plus high-profile stunts and self-organized shows like Turf War.
What does the title Turf War refer to?
It is named after Banksy's 2003 Turf War show in East London, with the green turf mohican echoing both the show's name and the grass famously planted on Churchill's statue during the 2000 May Day protests.
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.