Banksy Originals Sold over $1m at Auction

The ranking of Banksy’s highest auction prices demonstrates the increasing importance of exceptional provenance, scale and historical significance. The list is dominated by unique paintings carrying major cultural narratives, including Love is in the Bin, Game Changer and Girl and Balloon on Found Landscape. Rather than rewarding age alone, the market places its highest premiums on works that have become defining moments in Banksy’s artistic legacy, confirming the transition of his market from one driven by rarity to one increasingly shaped by historical importance.

2. Million-Dollar Results by Year of Creation

The distribution of million-dollar works clearly identifies 2005 and 2006 as the most significant creative period in Banksy’s career. These two years account for the largest concentration of works exceeding the US$1 million threshold, reflecting a remarkable convergence of artistic innovation, cultural relevance and collector demand. While exceptional works have emerged throughout Banksy’s career, the market consistently recognizes the mid-2000s as the period during which many of his defining images and most ambitious paintings were created.

3. Aggregate Value of Million-Dollar Sales by Auction Year

The evolution of auction values illustrates the gradual institutionalization of Banksy’s market. Although the first million-dollar original was sold in 2008, establishing Banksy among the world’s leading contemporary artists at an early stage, the market experienced unprecedented expansion during 2021, when exceptional demand, limited supply and global liquidity combined to produce record prices. Since then, the market has normalized while remaining exceptionally resilient, with museum-quality works continuing to command strong international competition.

4. Auction House Market Share

The million-dollar market is overwhelmingly concentrated among a handful of international auction houses. Sotheby’s occupies a dominant position, followed by Christie’s and Phillips, confirming that the highest-value Banksy works are largely traded through the world’s leading contemporary art specialists. This concentration reflects the confidence that collectors place in established auction houses when acquiring museum-quality examples.

5. Geographic Market Share

London remains the undisputed centre of the market for Banksy’s most important originals, reflecting both the artist’s British identity and the city’s role as the primary marketplace for his work. New York has established itself as a strong secondary market, while Hong Kong has rapidly emerged as the principal gateway to Asian collectors. Together, these three cities account for the overwhelming majority of million-dollar transactions, demonstrating the truly international character of Banksy’s market.

6. Million-Dollar Results by Object Type

The analysis confirms that original paintings overwhelmingly dominate the upper end of Banksy’s market. Editions represent only a limited proportion of million-dollar results despite their strong liquidity, while sculptures remain exceptionally rare. The chart illustrates that collectors continue to place the greatest value on unique works, particularly those that combine rarity, historical significance and direct involvement by the artist.

 

 

BANKSY
Love is in the Air, 2006 
Oil and spray paint on canvas
91.4 x 91.4 cm (36×36 inches)
Tagged on the turnover edge
Signed Banksy 5/15 and dated 24/4/2006 on the reverse

BANKSY
Subject to Availability, 2009
Oil on canvas, in artist’s frame
159.5 x 220.3cm (62.7 x 86.7 inches)

BANKSY
Sale Ends Today, 2006
Oil on canvas
213.4 x 426.7cm (84×168 inches)

BANKSY
Vandalised Oil (Choppers), 2005
Oil and spraypaint on canvas
94×61 cm (37×24 inches)

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Crude Oil (Vettriano), 2005
Oil on canvas, in artist’s frame
Canvas: 91×122 cm (35 7/8 x 48 inches)
Tagged (lower right)
Signed, partially titled and dated Oct 2005 (on the overturn edge)

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (Diptych), 2005
Spray paint on canvas, in two parts
Each: 30.2 x 30.2 cm (12×12 inches)
This work is from an edition of twenty-five

BANKSY (B. 1974)
Love Is In The Air, 2006
Spray paint and oil on linen
91.5 x 91.5 cm (36×36 inches)
Tagged (on the overturn edge)
Signed Banksy, dated May 2006 and numbered AP 02 (on the overlap)

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Girl with Balloon, 2006
Spray-paint on metal
60×90 cm (23 5/8 x 35 1/2 inches)
This work is from an edition of 5

BANKSY
Original Concept for Barely Legal Poster (after Demi Moore), 2006
Spray paint and emulsion on canvas
213 x 137.5 cm (83.9 x 54 inches)

BANKSY
Diamond In The Rough, 2010
Spray paint on truck door
192.7 x 93 x 10.2 cm (76x37x4 inches)

BANKSY
Laugh Now, 2006
Spray-paint on metal
129.5 x 91 cm (51 x 35.9 inches)

BANKSY
Laugh Now Panel A, 2002
Spray paint and emulsion on dry wall, in artist’s frame
178.5 x 74 cm (70.2 x 29.1 inches)

BANKSY
Gas Mask Boy, 2009
Spray paint and oil on wood
92.5 x 72 cm (36.4 x 28.4 inches)

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon, 2003
Spray paint on canvas
40.5 x 40.5 cm (16×16 inches)
This work is from an edition of 25

BANKSY
This is Not a Photo Opportunity, 2007
Spray paint on found oil painting, in artist’s frame
62×72 cm (24.1 x 28.1 inches)

BANKSY
Laugh Now But One Day We’ll Be in Charge, 2000
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
61×61 cm (24×24 inches)

BANKSY
Monkey Detonator, 2000
Spray paint on canvas
30×30 inches (76.2 x 76.2 cm)
This work is from a varying series and is accompanied by original Metropolitan Police tag

 

BANKSY (B.1974)
Hummingbird, 2015
Fiberglass, spray paint and emulsion on board in the original frame by the artist
65x55x40 cm (25 5/8 x 21 5/8 x 15 3/4 inches)
Signed ‘BANKSY’ (lower right)
This work is unique from a varied series

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Brace Yourself!, 2010
Acrylic on canvas
244×183 cm (8×6 feet)
Signed and dated to the lower left center

BANKSY
Happy Choppers, 2006
Spray paint and emulsion on canvas
126.9 x 182.9 cm (49-7/8 x 72 inches)
Stencilled ‘BANKSY’ lower right
Signed, numbered and dated ‘BANKSY 12/2/2006 1/3’ on the overlap
This work is number 1 from an edition of 3

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon, 2006
Spray paint and acrylic on canvas, mounted on board, in artist’s frame
101x78x18 cm (39 3/4 x 30 3/4 x 7 inches)
Signed and dedicated on the reverse

BANKSY (B. 1974)
Love Is In the Air (with stars), 2006
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
42.5 x 43 cm (16 3/4 x 17 inches)
Tagged BANKSY (on the turning edge)
Signed BANKSY (on the reverse)

BANKSY (B. 1974)
Girl and Balloon, 2003
Spray paint on canvas
40×40 cm (16×16 inches)
Stenciled ‘BANKSY’ (on the side)
Numbered ‘21⁄25’ (on the stretcher bar)

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Vest, 2019
Acrylic on canvas, velcro and Plastazte foam
45x43x32 cm (17 3/4 x 16 7/8 x 12 5/8 inches)
Signed and numbered 1 (on the reverse)
This work is number 1 from an edition of 5