Police Kids, 2005

sebastien laboureau

May 15, 2021

Police Kids, 2005

Editions: 350 signed, 350 unsigned

‘A lot of parents will do anything for their children,
except let them be themselves.’

Police Kids, also known as Jack and Jill, portrays two innocent, carefree, and seemingly happy children running together. At first glance, the image appears picturesque and innocent, until the viewer sees their bulletproof vests with “POLICE” emblazoned in capital letters across their chests. The children seem to be running and floating within a blocked sky blue background giving a sense of absolute liberty. Furthermore, the dark blue background gives a feeling of freedom, and yet the children are wearing bulletproof police vests. A classic subversion technique employed by Banksy to let the viewer know that all is not always what it seems to be… The jarring aesthetic of children in bulletproof police jackets is at odds with the supposed freedom and innocence of childhood.

Police Kids (Pink AP), 2005
Edition: 22 signed AP

As it is often the case, this work leads to many different interpretations. It could be referring to the fact that some overbearing parents feel the need to over-protect their children and don’t let them be who they want to be. More widely, one could see a possible metaphor for the way in which law enforcement is restricting people’s freedom.

The names of the children are based on the nursery rhyme “Jack and Jill went up the hill.” In the rhyme the children go up the hill and fall. Childhood should be a time to explore and be carefree. Maybe life should be a time for all to explore freely…

DESCRIPTION

Police Kids, Jack and Jill

Year: 2004

Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper

Size: 50×70 cm (19 3/4 x 27 1/2 inches)

Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Signed Edition: 350
Unsigned Edition: 350

Artist’s Proof Edition
Pink Edition: 22 signed AP

Numbering and Signature

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

Signed and dated in pencil, lower right (signed edition)

AUCTION RESULTS

1. Police Kids (unsigned)

Police Kids (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2024, at Dorotheum Vienna, on 24 May 2024, for EUR 16,950 (USD 18,325).

Police Kids (unsigned) sold 4 times at auction in 2023 at an average price of GBP 24,245 (USD 30,053). It sold for GBP 32,760 (USD 40,295), its highest price of 2023, at Christie’s online on 14 March 2023.

Police Kids (unsigned) sold 4 times at auction in 2022 at an average price of GBP 37,625 (USD 47,536). It sold for GBP 40,320 (USD 53,222), its highest price of 2022, at Christie’s online on 15 March 2022.

Police Kids (unsigned) sold 11 times at auction in 2021 at an average price of GBP 43,688 (USD 60,479). It sold for GBP 53,600 (USD 74,505), its highest price of 2021 and auction record, at Forum Auctions on 23 April 2021.

The highest price ever paid at auction for Police Kids (unsigned) is GBP 53,600 (USD 74,504), achieved at Forum Auctions on 25 April 2021.

2025 Auction Results

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 12,600 / USD 16,279

BANKSY
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 309/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Tate Ward Auctions: 19 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 12,500 / USD 16,115

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Jack & Jill (Police Kids)’ (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 350 in pencil

2024 Auction Results

Police Kids (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2024, at Dorotheum Vienna, on 24 May 2024, for EUR 16,950 (USD 18,325).

Dorotheum Vienna: 24 May 2024
Estimated: EUR 12,000 – 16,000
EUR 16,950 / USD 18,325

BANKSY (born in Bristol, GB in 1975)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
No. 80 of 350 unsigned examples, numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

2023 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 30 August 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
HAMMER GBP 16,000
GBP 21,440 / USD 27,276

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 350

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 20,000 / USD 24,621

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered and inscribed DN in pencil from the edition of 350

Forum Auctions: 28 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 17,000 – 22,000
GBP 22,780 / USD 28,019

BANKSY (b.1974)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 40,295

BANKSY
Jack and Jill (Police Kids), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 174/350 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2022 Auction Results

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 41,295

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 227/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 26,000 – 33,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 50,803

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 227/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Christie’s online, 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 53,222

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 52/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Christie’s online: 23 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 43,750 / USD 60,813

BANKSY
Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 172/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Forum Auctions: 23 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 40,000 (Hammer)
GBP 53,600 / USD 74,505
AUCTION RECORD FOR POLICE KIDS (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams London: 21 February 2021
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 44,000 / USD 62,120

BANKSY

Police Kids (unsigned), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 339/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

2. Police Kids (signed)

Police Kids (signed) sold twice at auction in 2024. It sold at Christie’s online on 26 March 2024 for GBP 40,320 (USD 51,135), and at Phillips New-York on 15 February 2024 for USD 25,400.

Police Kids (signed) sold 6 times at auction in 2023 at an average price of GBP 35,775 (USD 44,579). It sold for GBP 49,580 (USD 60,983), its highest price of 2023, at Forum Auctions on 28 February 2023.

Police Kids (signed) sold 6 times at auction in 2022 at an average price of GBP 65,942 (USD 83,024). It sold for USD 101,175 (GBP 84,313), its highest price of 2022, at Bonhams in Los Angeles on 27 September 2022.

Police Kids (signed) sold 7 times at auction in 2021 at an average price of GBP 85,831 (USD 118,418). It sold at Forum Auctions in 27 January 2021 for GBP 127,300 (USD 174,400), its all-time high auction record.

2025 Auction Results

Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 25,200 / USD 32,558

BANKSY
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colours on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 327/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

2024 Auction Results

Police Kids (signed) sold twice at auction in 2024. It sold at Christie’s online on 26 March 2024 for GBP 40,320 (USD 51,135), and at Phillips New-York on 15 February 2024 for USD 25,400.

Christie’s online: 26 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 51,135

BANKSY
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 219/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Phillips New-York: 15 February 2024
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 25,400

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors, on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 151/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right
Pest Control identified this as a duplicate edition number, erroneously signed and numbered

2023 Auction Results

Heritage Auctions: 25 July 2023
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 37,500 / GBP 28,639

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 307/350 in pencil, lower right

Phillips London: 8 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 33,020 / USD 41,105

BANKSY
Police Kids (Jack and Jill) (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 69/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Forum Auctions: 24 May 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 38,190 / USD 47,229

BANKSY (b.1974)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (Signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered from the edition of 350, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams London: 19 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 28,020 / USD 34,859

BANKSY (British, born 1974)

Jack & Jill (Police Kids) (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and numbered 214/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 37,200 / USD 45,795

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 70/350 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Forum Auctions: 22 February 2023
Estimated: GBP 38,000 – 45,000
GBP 49,580 / USD 60,983

BANKSY (b.1974)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (Signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered from the edition of 350, with the publisher’s blindstamp

2022 Auction Results

Bonhams London: 20 October 2022
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 59,520 / USD 67,178

BANKSY (born 1974)

Jack & Jill (Police Kids), 2005
Screenprint in colors
Signed, dated and numbered 342/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams LA: 27 September 2022
Estimated: USD 50,000 – 70,000
USD 101,175 / GBP 84,313

BANKSY (born 1975)

Jack and Jill (Police Kids), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 287/350

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 50,400 / USD 60,480

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Jack & Jill (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated, numbered 266/350, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 52,920 / USD 66,679

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Signed and dated in pencil, lower right

Numbered 62/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Bonhams London: 3 March 2022
GBP 81,100 / USD 110,840

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 226/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2021 Auction Results

Sotheby’s online: 17 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000

GBP 63,000 / USD 87,570

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Signed and dated in pencil, lower right

Numbered 302/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Heritage Auctions: 22 April 2021

GBP 62,950 / USD 87,500

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Signed and dated in pencil, lower right

Numbered 102/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 94,500 / USD 131,355

BANKSY
Police Kids (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Signed and dated in pencil

Numbered 161/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Forum Auctions: 27 January 2021
Estimated: GBP 80,000 – 120,000
GBP 95,000 (Hammer)
GBP 127,300 / USD 174,400
AUCTION RECORD FOR POLICE KIDS (SIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
Jack and Jill (Police Kids) (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered from the edition of 350 with the publisher’s blindstamp

Police Kids, 2005

‘A lot of parents will do anything for their children,
except let them be themselves.’