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Banksy's "Rude Copper" (2002), a screen-print and spray
painted image of a British bobby making a rude gesture, was the
top seller, going for 32,500 pounds ($49,088) against a high
estimate of 12,000 pounds.
Bonham's said that Banksy prints from the collection of Steve
Lazarides, a promoter of street art, made 434,600 pounds in
Wednesday's auction, with 30 of the works selling above their
high estimates.
"Christ with Shopping Bags" (2004), a re-imagining of
crucifixion imagery, made 22,500 pounds against a high estimate
of 12,000 pounds. "Flower Thrower" (2003) sold for 20,625 pounds
after a high estimate of 12,000 pounds. "Laugh Now" (2004) and
"Festival" (2006) each made 20,000 pounds, against high
estimates of 8,000 and 6,000, respectively.
Banksy is the pseudonym of a graffiti artist who first emerged
in Bristol, England, as part of an underground group of street
artists. He hides his identity and real name, and his works are
highly sought after by art collectors.
The top lot at the auction was Irish artist Conor Harrington’s
"Dance With the Devil" (2013), an oil and spray paint on
stretched linen, which sold for 77,500 pounds against a pre-sale
estimate of 30,000-50,000 pounds.
Paintings by Harrington, who started his career working as a
graffiti artist in the mid-1990s, have been bought by celebrity
collectors including Alicia Keys, Jared Leto and Damien Hirst.
(Reporting by Michael Roddy; Editing by Jeremy Gaunt)
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