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I Fought The Law, 2004

BY
I Fought The Law, 2004
Editions: 150 signed, 500 unsigned

‘I Fought The Law and I Won…’

I Fought the Law, also known as IFTL, is based on a video footage of John Hinckley’s 1981 failed assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan. In a violent struggle, one man is being pinned. The man on the ground has dropped a paintbrush, with which he has just scrawled the words “I Fought The Law And I Won” in bright orange paint on the wall behind. In Banksy’s version, the criminal is a graffiti artist, instead of a killer.
 
As usually the case in Banksy’s artworks, several interpretations are possible… One the one hand, those who rise above the law and fight protocol, are invariably knocked down by law enforcement or some authority in charge. Alternatively, it could be seen that, despite getting caught, the graffiti artist had already won – by writing on the wall, he had succeeded in getting his message out there despite what happened next.

Shooting a President: The Reagan Assassination Attempt Explained

 

I Fought the Law is controversial and overtly anti-authoritarian, condemning the violence of the authorities and calling for acts of rebellion. It clearly suggests that street artists are considered to be serious criminals in the eyes of the law and are treated as such. The artist arguably positions himself in the place of Hinckley on the ground, substituting his firearm for a paintbrush. The text references the title of the song I Fought The Law (and The Law Won) by The Clash from 1979.

 

DESCRIPTION

I Fought The Law

Year: 2004
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 70×70 cm (27 1/2 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Signed Edition: 150
Unsigned Edition: 500

Colorways Editions
Orange AP: 8 signed AP
Pink AP: 8 signed AP
Red AP: 8 signed AP
Yellow AP: 8 signed AP
Silver AP: Size Unknown
Uncut AP: 26 signed AP (various colorways)

COLORWAYS

I Fought The Law (Orange AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Red AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Yellow AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Pink AP), 2004
Edition: 8 signed AP

I Fought The Law (Silver AP), 2004

Edition: Unknown

AUCTION RESULTS

FOR A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF AUCTION RESULTS
PLEASE CHECK BANKSY VALUE: 2004 PRINTS
YOU WILL ONLY FIND THE MOST RECENT AUCTION RESULTS BELOW

BANKSY VALUE: 2004 Prints

I Fought The Law (unsigned) sold twice at auction in 2025 so far.

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 13,860 / USD 17,907

BANKSY
I Fought the Law (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 499/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

LA Modern: 8 January 2025
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 25,000
USD 17,780

BANKSY (b.1975)
I Fought the Law (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors
Numbered to lower right ‘83/500’

I Fought The Law (signed) sold twice at auction in 2024, at Forum Auctions, on 30 April 2024, for GBP 32,160 (USD 40,200), and at Christie’s online on 1 October 2024 for GBP 21,420 (USD 28,489).

Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 21,420 / USD 28,489

BANKSY
I Fought the Law (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 428/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp
A signed impression within the unsigned edition of 500 (there was also a signed edition of 150)

Forum Auctions: 30 April 2024
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 24,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 32,160 / USD 40,200

BANKSY (b. 1974)
I Fought The Law (Signed), 2004
Screenprint in black and orange on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150 with the publisher’s blindstamp

Gallery

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