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Girl with Balloon, 2004

BY
Girl with Balloon, 2004
Editions: 150 signed, 600 unsigned

“This tender little fella has an almost poignant message. Banksy was never his mother’s favorite. And he was an only child.”

Immediately recognizable and instantly touching, Girl with Balloon is one of Banksy’s best-known images. It depicts a young child who reaches out to a red heart-shaped balloon that is just out of her reach, as her hair and dress are blown by a strong gust of wind. It is ambiguous as to whether she has intentionally released the balloon, evoking an endearing image of childhood freedom, or if she has accidentally lost her grip on the dangling string and is watching in despair as the balloon slips into oblivion. Either way, when the work was graffitied on London’s Waterloo Bridge (later removed by the council), Banksy paired it with the phrase ‘There is always hope’. Because of this the work has come to represent both childhood innocence and the importance of maintaining hope, even in the darkest of times.

“There is always Hope”

Girl with Balloon, London South Bank, 2003
The red balloon, as the only spot of color, is an archetypal symbol of childhood and freedom many of us connect with. More than a simple child’s toy, it evokes fragility of what it stands for: innocence, dreams, hope and love. Girl with Balloon is one of Banksy’s many works that focus on the theme of childhood. The artist utilizes the innocence and moral virtue associated with children to turn a mirror on society, foregrounding its faults and injustices. Banksy frequently combines images of childhood, and its closely connected notions of both purity and nostalgia, with somber and despondent themes of war, political division, and mass-surveillance. In doing so, the tenderness of the child’s image evokes an increasingly powerful and provocative message. Viewers of Girl with Balloon cannot help but feel empathy for the young child’s loss. But, at the same time, her out-reached hand embodies a determined and admirable longing for something better. For this reason, the image has become a universal symbol of optimism.
Such themes link Banksy’s work to the French film of 1956, Le ballon rouge (The Red Balloon). The Oscar-winning short film is set in the streets of post-war Paris, and tells the story of Pascal, a young boy who is followed by a red balloon that appears to have a mind of its own. As in Banksy’s Girl with Balloon, Pascal’s red balloon serves as a symbol of hope and light.

 

Well loved by the public and collectors alike, her heartbreaking gesture reaches out to all of us making this one of the most recognizable artworks of the 21st century. Voted in 2017 as the United Kingdom’s favorite artwork, the image has unwavering appeal. Despite the physical graffiti versions being removed by the authorities, the iconic artwork lives on in many different iterations. Banksy has reimagined the work multiple times in recent years to align it with various political statements. This includes in 2014 to raise awareness of the war in Syria and in 2017 to encourage anti-Conservative voting in the UK election.

 

On 5 October 2018, a 2006 framed Girl with Balloon on canvas was auctioned at Sotheby’s London and sold for GBP 1,042,000, a record high for the artist. Moments after the closing bid, the artwork began to self-destruct by means of a hidden mechanical paper shredder that Banksy had built into the bottom of the frame. Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on whom you ask) only the lower half was shredded instead of the entire piece as he intended. The room filled with art collectors looked on in horror and confusion as the canvas began to self-destruct, and countless others were watching the auction unfold online.
Just about three years after, the half-shredded work renamed Love Is In The Bin broke the record of the highest price ever achieved by Banksy at auction when it sold at Sotheby’s London for GBP 18,582,000 / USD 25,457,340.
Banksy has created many original artworks based on this iconic stencil, including 2 editions on canvas.
Girl and Balloon, 2003
Stencil spray-paint on canvas
50.8 x 50.8 cm (20×20 inches)
Edition: 25

 

Girl with Balloon (Diptych), 2005
Spray paint on canvas, in two parts
Each: 30.2 x 30.2 cm (11 7/8 x 11 7/8 inches)
Edition: 25
Christie’s London, 15 October 2021
GBP 3,042,500 / USD 4,168,225

Banksy has very well understood how he could use this powerful artwork to impact the world and share important messages. From the Syrian Girl with Balloon to M.V. Louise Michel, Girl with Balloon has reached a notoriety very few other artworks have, after Mona Lisa…

Read Girl with Balloon: From Graffiti to Art History Icon

 

DESCRIPTION

Girl with Balloon

Year: 2004
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 70×50 cm (27 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Signed Edition: 150

Unsigned Edition: 600

Artist’s Proof: 88 signed AP
4 colorways: 22 signed AP of each
Gold AP, Dark Pink AP, Dark Purple AP, Light Pink AP

COLORWAYS

Girl with Balloon (Gold AP)

Girl with Balloon (Gold AP), 2004
Edition: 22 signed AP

Girl with Balloon (Dark Pink AP)

Girl with Balloon (Dark Pink AP), 2004
Edition: 22 signed AP

Girl with Balloon (Dark Purple AP)

Girl with Balloon (Dark Purple AP), 2004
Edition: 22 signed AP

 

AUCTION RESULTS

You will find a summary below.

TO FIND ALL AUCTION RESULTS

Girl with Balloon Value

1. Girl with Balloon (unsigned)


Girl with Balloon (unsigned) is one of Banksy’s prints that sells the most at auction, with 61 lots sold at auction between 2020 an 2024. There is a strong disparity in prices achieved at auction mostly due to condition issues. Obviously, prints which are not in excellent condition do not sell at a premium.

One lot has sold so far in 2025.

Phillips London: 23 January 2025
Estimated: GBP 60,000 – 80,000
GBP 82,550 / USD 101,980

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 378/600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

 

Girl with Balloon (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2024 at an average price of GBP 78,832 (USD 100,567). It last sold at Forum Auctions on 29 October 2024 for GBP 67,000 (USD 86,966), its lowest price for 2024.

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 55,000 – 65,000
Hammer: GBP 50,000
GBP 67,000 / USD 86,966

BANKSY (b.1974)
Girl with Balloon (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Girl with Balloon (unsigned) sold 10 times at auction in 2023 for an aggregate turnover of GBP 840,770 (USD 1,045,749), at an average price of GBP 84,077 (USD 104,575). Its highest price for 2023 of GBP 109,620 (USD 134,833) was achieved at Phillips in London on 19 January 2023.

Phillips London: 23 January 2023
Estimated: GBP 70,000 – 90,000
GBP 109,620 / USD 134,833
HIGHEST PRICE PAID FOR GIRL WITH BALLOON (UNSIGNED) IN 2023

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon, 2004
Screenprint in black and red on wove paper
Numbered 200/600 in pencil, lower right

Girl with Balloon (unsigned) sold 13 times at auction in 2022 for an aggregate turnover of USD 2,017,102, at an average price of USD 155,162. The highest price paid for a Girl with Balloon (unsigned) in 2022 was GBP 163,800 (USD 224,406) achieved at Phillips in London on 19 January 2022.

Phillips London: 19 January 2022
Estimated: GBP 100,000 – 120,000
GBP 163,800 / USD 224,406
HIGHEST PRICE PAID FOR GIRL WITH BALLOON (UNSIGNED) IN 2022

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 401/600 in pencil, an unsigned impression, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Girl with Balloon (unsigned) sold 20 times at auction in 2021 for an aggregate turnover of GBP 3,392,845 (USD 4,684,965), at an average price of GBP 169,642 (USD 234,248). The highest price paid for a Girl with Balloon (unsigned) in 2021, and the world auction record is USD 450,312 (GBP 323,965) achieved at Bonhams in Los Angeles on 12 March 2021.

Bonhams LA: 24 March 2021
Estimated: USD 140,000 – 180,000
USD 450,312 / 323,965
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR GIRL WITH BALLOON (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY (born 1975)
Girl with Balloon (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 201/600, with the publisher’s blindstamp

 

2. Girl with Balloon (signed)

Girl with Balloon (signed) sold twice in 2023, at Phillips in London on 6 December 2023 for GBP 215,900 (USD 271,915), and at Sotheby’s in London on 26 September 2023 for GBP 190,500 (USD 231,723).

It had last sold at auction at Christie’s online on 15 March 2022 for GBP 378,000 (USD 498,960).

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 150,000 – 250,000
GBP 189,000 / USD 244,188

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 78/150 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Girl with Balloon (signed) sold 3 times at auction in 2024, at Christie’s online, on 1 October 2024 for GBP 189,000 (USD 251,370) on 1 October 2024 and on 26 March 2024, for GBP 239,400 (USD 303,614), and at International Art Center, in New Zealand, for NZD 600,600 (USD 360,360).

International Art Center: 26 March 2024
Estimated: NZD 500,000 – 700,000
NZD 500,000 (HAMMER)
NZD 600,600 / USD 360,360 / GBP 284,144

BANKSY (British b. 1974)
Girl with Balloon (signed), 2004
Screenprint on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered in pencil 51/150 with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Girl with Balloon (signed) sold twice in 2023, at Phillips in London on 6 December 2023 for GBP 215,900 (USD 271,915), and at Sotheby’s in London on 26 September 2023 for GBP 190,500 (USD 231,723).

Phillips London: 6 December 2023
Estimated: GBP 120,000 – 180,000
GBP 215,900 / USD 271,915

Banksy – New Now London Lot 32 December 2023 | Phillips

BANKSY
Girl With Balloon (signed), 2004
Screenprint on paper
Signed and dated in pencil lower left
Numbered 84/150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp lower right

Christie’s online: 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 300,000 – 500,000
GBP 378,000 / USD 498,960

BANKSY, Girl with Balloon | Christie’s (christies.com)

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 23/150 in pencil, lower right

3. Girl with Balloon (signed AP)

The Artist’s Proofs editions of Girl with Balloon are now collectors’ favorites due to their small edition sizes. They are the most sought-after versions on paper of Girl with Balloon. They sell at a premium and rarely appear at auction. However, the last one that appeared at action was bought-in at Sotheby’s in London on 26 September 2023.

Girl with Balloon (Dark Pink AP), 2004

Sotheby’s London, 30 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 250,000 – 450,000
GBP 403,200 / USD 495,936

Girl With Balloon – Colour AP (Dark Pink) | Modern & Contemporary Day Auction | 2022 | Sotheby’s (sothebys.com)

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (Dark Pink AP), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, lower right
Inscribed AP26 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
One of 88 Artist’s Proofs printed in various colorways

Girl with Balloon (Gold AP), 2004

Sotheby’s London: 25 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 400,000 – 600,000
GBP 1,104,000 / USD 1,513,886

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon (Gold AP), 2004
Signed and numbered AP/7 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right
From the edition of 88 artist’s proofs (comprised of different color variants)

4. Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia

A biting example of Banksy’s satirical oeuvre, Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia is a double-sided composition boasting two of the artist’s most famous images: Girl with Balloon and Morons. On the recto, Girl with Balloon depicts a young girl extending her hand toward a red heart-shaped balloon, carried away by the wind. To the reverse, a crowd of art collectors is shown gathered around an auctioneer who, mid-performance, gestures toward a large, gilt-framed canvas. When held up to light, Girl with Balloon and Morons Sepia magically fuse into a single composition, transporting the young girl into the sale room, and creating a mirror effect between her extended arm and that of the auctioneer. Forming part of an edition of 8 works, the present work is nonetheless rendered unique by the artist’s spray painting of the young girl’s figure to the front of the work – a feat that distinguishes it from Banksy’s other editions of Girl with Balloon and Morons.

Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia, 2007

Phillips Hong-Kong: 1 December 2022
Estimated: HKD 4,500,000 – 6,500,000
HKD 5,670,000 / USD 726,460

Banksy – 20th Century & Contemporar… Lot 25 December 2022 | Phillips

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia, 2007
Double-sided work on paper
Girl with Balloon: Spray paint on paper
Morons Sepia: Screenprint on paper
56.5 x 76 cm (22 1/4 x 29 7/8 inches)
Signed, numbered and dated ‘BANKSY 07 3/8’ lower right
This work is number 3 from an edition of 8

Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia, 2007

Phillips London: 20 October 2020
Estimated: GBP 500,000 – 700,000
GBP 1,232,500 / USD 1,609,580

Banksy – 20th Century & Contemporary … Lot 8 October 2020 | Phillips

BANKSY
Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia, 2007
Girl with Balloon: Spray paint on paper
Morons Sepia: Screenprint on paper, double-sided
56.5 x 76 cm (22 1/4 x 29 7/8 inches)
Signed, numbered and dated ‘Banksy 07 2/8’ lower right
This work is number 2 from an edition of 8

 

 

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