Fiberglass, polyester resin, acrylic with the original plinth
Snake: 78x82x262 cm (30 11/16 x 32 5/16 x 103 1/8 inches)
Plinth: 35×180 cm (13 3/4 x 70 7/8 inches)
This work is from an edition of 5
Provenance
Vroom & Varossieau Urban Contemporary Art, Amsterdam
Corporate collection, Hong Kong
Acquired from the above by the present owner
Exhibition History
Somerset, Dismaland, 21 August – 27 September 2015 (another from the edition exhibited).
Auction History
Bonhams London: 16 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 150,000 – 200,000
Price realized: GBP 330,600 / USD 436,390
Banksy, the elusive street artist, has long challenged societal norms through provocative works and reached global fame by taking his art to the streets and making it accessible to anyone. Among his diverse creations, Mickey Snake (2015) stands out as a striking sculpture critiquing consumer culture and corporate influence.
Crafted from fiberglass, polyester resin, and acrylic, Mickey Snake was produced in a limited edition of five. It marks Banksy’s expansion into sculpture, moving beyond the stencils and murals that define much of his career. The artwork depicts Mickey Mouse, an emblem of childhood innocence and Disney’s global reach, being consumed by a snake, a classic symbol of danger and deceit. This unsettling imagery underscores Banksy’s recurring critique of capitalism, mass media, and the seductive yet destructive nature of consumerism.
One version from the small edition was prominently featured in Banksy’s dystopian amusement park Dismaland in 2015 before being acquired by American DJ Steve Aoki, who displayed it in his living room and featured in in various articles. With Mickey Snake, Banksy skillfully transforms familiar imagery into sharp social commentary. By depicting an icon of entertainment engulfed by a menacing force, he compels viewers to reconsider the pervasive power of corporate entities and the lure of consumerism in modern culture.
