A van that was once used by the SWAT team and then spraypainted by elusive artist Banksy is to be auctioned in London at Bonhams on 29 June.
It was first displayed at the infamous Barely Legal exhibition in Los Angeles back in 2006, where Banksy also featured a live painted elephant in the room.
On one side of the van, Banksy has spraypainted heavily armed special forces agents being hoodwinked by a small boy. On the other, Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz is caught in a storm of graffiti. On the back it says: How’s My Bombing? Call 1-800-648-0403.
Ralph Taylor, senior director of Bonhams’ postwar and contemporary art department, called it “probably the most significant piece by the artist to ever come to auction and without doubt the most ambitious”. The work has been verified by Pest Control Office and comes with an estimate of £200,000-300,000.
Photo credit: Butterfly & Bonhams
Update: The Banksy SWAT van sold for £218,500 inc. premium.
butterflyartnews.com 