Banksy and the rapidly rising market Thu, 08 Oct 2020
Otago Daily Times
World record price paid for Banksy at IAC auction
A Banksy artwork set a world record earlier this month at International Art Centre, fetching a whopping $126,000 - twice what is was predicted to reach.
The work, Have A Nice Day, was expected to fetch $60,000 at a sale of collectable art at the International Art Centre, in Parnell.
To the auction house's delight, a bout of spirited bidding saw the buyer, an unidentified New Zealander, shell out $126,000 for the military-themed work which was created nearly 20 years ago.
The sale price was the most ever paid for a print of Have A Nice Day, of which there was a limited issue of authentic copies. International Art Centre director Richard Thomson said inquiries about Have A Nice Day had come from around the world. He confirmed it went to an unidentified New Zealand buyer. Have A Nice Day features 27 military police or riot police, all dressed in black riot gear and standing on either side of a tank. Each is wearing a yellow smiley face, which Banksy often uses to portray figures that use fear as a means of control. At the bottom of the print is the message: Have A Nice Day. It is the third time the International Art Centre has achieved a world record price for Banksy works this year following sales in August and June.
New Zealand Herald 1 October 2020
A Banksy artwork set a world record last night at an Auckland auction, fetching a whopping $126,000 - twice what is was predicted to reach.
The work, Have A Nice Day, was expected to fetch $60,000 at a sale of collectable art at the International Art Centre, in Parnell.
To the auction house's delight, a bout of spirited bidding saw the buyer, an unidentified New Zealander, shell out $126,000 for the military-themed work which was created nearly 20 years ago.
The sale price was the most ever paid for a print of Have A Nice Day, of which there was a limited issue of authentic copies.
While better known for his street art around London, the screen print is one of a limited edition of 500, and one of the first Banksy pieces released to the public in 2003.
It was accompanied by a certificate of authenticity from Pest Control, the company set up by Banksy to sell and authenticate his work.
The mysterious artist has never been publicly identified but has established a global reputation and following and is one of the world's most sought-after contemporary artists.
International Art Centre director Richard Thomson said inquiries about Have A Nice Day had come from around the world.
He confirmed it went to an unidentified New Zealand buyer.
The record price cemented the anonymous artist's status as a global art superstar.
"The interest in Banksy is phenomenal. He has a fundamental dislike of militarism and modern colonialism and although it was created nearly 20 years ago, Have A Nice Day is a reflection of some of the world's protest hot spots, particularly America, where authorities are taking often forceful and violent action to subdue unrest," he said.
Have A Nice Day features 27 military police or riot police, all dressed in black riot gear and standing on either side of a tank. Each is wearing a yellow smiley face, which Banksy often uses to portray figures that use fear as a means of control. At the bottom of the print is the message: Have A Nice Day.
t is the third time the International Art Centre has achieved a world record price for Banksy works this year following sales in August and June.
A work by French street artist Blek Le Rat, Father of stencil graffiti sold for $5,705, against a $1,500 - 2,500 estimate. Banksy and Blek have expressed mutual desire for collaboration; in 2011, Blek was seen adding to a mural begun the previous year by Banksy in the Mission District, San Francisco. Word on the 'street' is they are working on something together currently.
