Gangsta Rat, 2004

sebastien laboureau

May 15, 2021

Gangsta Rat, 2004

Editions: 150 signed, 350 unsigned

‘They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted.
They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth.
And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees.’

Gangsta Rat combines spray-paint and black and white stenciling techniques. It depicts a black and white rat wearing a New York Mets baseball cap, a chain necklace, and carrying a ghetto blaster. The character portrayed is reminiscent of the New York underground style that was prevalent across the UK in the 1980s and 90s.

Gangsta Rat appears to have tagged “iPow” on the wall behind him in spray paint. The image is an ironic social commentary on the ubiquity of Apple products, whereas POW is a clear reference to Banksy’s print publisher: Pictures on Walls.

Pest Modernism

Banksy, Cut It Out, December 2004

Rats are one of Banksy’s greatest sources of inspiration and one of the most prolific subjects in his work. An anagram of ‘ART’, the rat is an allegorical tool used by Banksy to reveal the vices and flaws of the human race. The symbol of the rat is also closely associated with Banksy himself. Hunted down by the authorities, rats, like graffiti artists, tend to appear by night under the cover of darkness, and considered by much of society to be a pest (at least up to a few years ago…). By giving the figure of the rat a voice Banksy is speaking for those oppressed and defeated by the endless competition and consumerism of late capitalism.

Read Rat Business and Pest Modernism

Banksy’s appreciation for rats is often attributed to French stencil artist Blek le Rat, who is widely considered to be the father of stencil graffiti and is famous for introducing urban art to France in the 80’s, some 20 years before Banksy.

Gangsta Rat Peace, 2007
Spray-paint and stencil and screen-print on paper, double-sided
75.9×56.2 cm (29 7/8 x 22 1/8 inches)
Phillips New-York, 24 June 2021
USD 529,200

DESCRIPTION

Gangsta Rat

Year: 2004

Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper

Size: 50×30 cm (19 1/2 x 13 5/8 inches)

Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Main Edition (Red)
Signed Edition: 150
Unsigned Edition: 350

Colorway Editions

Blue, Orange, Grey: 61 signed each

Pink: 46 signed

Green: 20 signed

Mint Green: 8 signed

Artist’s Proofs Edition

61 signed AP (varying colors)

Yellow, Dark Grey, Blue: 10 signed each

Orange, Lime Green, Light Grey: 10 signed each

Red: 1 signed

Numbering and Signature

Numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

COLORWAYS

Gangsta Rat (Blue), 2004

Edition: 61 signed

Gangsta Rat (Orange), 2004

Edition: 61 signed

Gangsta Rat (Grey), 2004

Edition: 61 signed

Gangsta Rat (Pink), 2004

Edition: 46 signed

Gangsta Rat (Green), 2004

Edition: 20 signed

Gangsta Rat (Mint Green), 2004

Edition: 8 signed

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

Gangsta Rat (unsigned) sold 3 times at auction in 2024 at an average price of GBP 17,738 (USD 22,880). It sold at Forum Auctions, 0n 30 April 2024, for GBP 20,100 (USD 25,125), its highest price for 2024.

Sotheby’s online: 26 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 15,600 / USD 20,764

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 304/350

SBI Art Auction: 14 September 2024
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 3,220,000 / USD 22,750 / GBP 17,514

BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint
Numbered and embossed on the lower right from the edition of 350

Forum Auctions: 30 April 2024
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 15,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 20,100 / USD 25,125

BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in black and red on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Gangsta Rat (signed) last sold at auction at Forum Auctions on 20 October 2021 for GBP 83,080 (USD 115,481).

Forum Auctions: 20 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 65,000 – 80,000
GBP 83,080 / USD 115,481

BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower left
Numbered /150 in pencil, lower right

One colorway of Gangsta Rat sold at auction so far in 2025.

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 56,700 / USD 73,256

BANKSY
Gangsta Rat – Pink, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and numbered 14/46 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Gangsta Rat, 2004

‘They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted.
They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth.
And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees.’