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Welcome To Hell, 2004

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Welcome To Hell, 2004
Editions: 75 signed, 175 unsigned
Welcome To Hell is part of the Placard Rat series, a trilogy of three screen prints released in 2004 featuring the artist’s iconic rat holding up a placard bearing the work’s title.
The two other prints are Get Out While You Can and Because I’m Worthless.
 
The inspiration behind the series comes from “Get Out While You Can” by author George Marshall, a book explaining how to find a way out of “salary slavery” or “rat race”. A number of variations of the Placard Rat were painted by Banksy in the streets of London as well as many other rats, leading to the rodent becoming a signature motif, or even alter ego, for the artist. Placard Rat was first seen on Chiswell Street in London, accompanied by the words “London Doesn’t Work.”

 

Welcome To Hell (Pink), 2004

Welcome To Hell portrays a rat standing up on two feet, like a human, and holding up a placard reading “Welcome To Hell” in bright red or pink writing. The rat, wearing a necklace bearing a peace sign, is seemingly engaged in a form of social protest as well as a warning of a danger still to come. The violence of the message is contrasted by the peace sign around the rat’s neck in a complex double meaning, characteristic of Banksy’s work. The sign, in bright red splattered paint inevitably reminds the viewer of blood. Welcome to Hell clearly stands for Banksy’s position on law enforcement, militarism, capitalism and consumerism, with a clear warning against modern life in the over-surveilled city.

Pest Modernism

Banksy, Cut It Out, December 2004
 
By giving the figure of the rat a voice Banksy is speaking for those oppressed and defeated by capitalism and consumerism with a warning against modern life in the over-surveilled city.
Obviously, Banksy also sees something of himself in his rat character as an artist who works under the radar, operating largely at night, and is considered by much of society to be a pest.
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.

DESCRIPTION

Welcome To Hell

Year: 2004
Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Size: 50×35 cm (19 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
 

Editions

Signed Edition: 75
Unsigned Edition: 175
Some in red, some in pink (exact counts not specified)

AUCTION RESULTS

1. WTH (unsigned)

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold 4 times at auction in 2024, at an average price of GBP 13,945 (USD 18,099). It sold for its highest price of GBP 15,120 (USD 19,176) at Christie’s online on 26 March 2024.

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2023, at Tate Ward Auctions on 29 March 2023 for GBP 17,400 (USD 21,420).

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) did not sell at auction in 2022.

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold twice at auction in 2021, at Tate Ward Auctions on 29 September 2021 for GBP 35,000 (USD 48,650), and at Forum Auctions on 23 April 2021 for GBP 44,220 (USD 61,466).

The highest price ever paid for Welcome to Hell (unsigned) was achieved at Phillips in Hong-Kong on 4 December 2020, when Edition 133/175 sold for HKD 504,000 (USD 65,000 / GBP 48,510).

2024 Auction Results

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold 4 times at auction in 2024, at an average price of GBP 13,945 (USD 18,099). It sold for its highest price of GBP 15,120 (USD 19,176) at Christie’s online on 26 March 2024.


Forum Auctions: 4 December 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
Hammer: GBP 11,000
GBP 12,060 / USD 15,655

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 15,000
Hammer: GBP 11,000
GBP 14,740 / USD 19,133

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in black and pink on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 13,860 / USD 18,434

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 115/175 in pencil (there was also a signed edition of 75) with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 26 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 15,120 / USD 19,176

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 85/175 in pencil

2023 Auction Results

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold once at auction in 2023, at Tate Ward Auctions on 29 March 2023 for GBP 17,400 (USD 21,420).

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 17,400 / USD 21,420

BANKSY
Welcome To Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 175/175 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2022 Auction Results

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) did not sell at auction in 2022.

 

2021 Auction Results

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) sold twice at auction in 2021, at Tate Ward Auctions on 29 September 2021 for GBP 35,000 (USD 48,650), and at Forum Auctions on 23 April 2021 for GBP 44,220 (USD 61,466).

 

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 35,000 / USD 48,650

BANKSY (British 1974-)
Welcome To Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 175 in pencil

Forum Auctions: 23 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 33,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 44,220 / USD 61,466

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

2. WTH (signed)

Welcome To Hell (signed) has sold once at auction in 2024, at Sotheby’s New-York for USD 38,400.

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold twice at auction in 2023, at Tate Ward Auction on 29 March 2023 for GBP 46,000 (USD 56,629), and at Forum Auctions on 22 February 2023 for GBP 60,300 (USD 74,169).

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold once at auction in 2022, at Sotheby’s online on 26 April 2022 for GBP 94,500 (USD 119,070).

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold 3 times at auction in 2021 at an average price of GBP 83,600 (USD 117,498). It sold at Bonhams in London on 25 February 2021 for GBP 94,000 (USD 132,712), its highest price for 2021.

The highest price ever paid for Welcome to Hell (signed) of GBP 148,740 (USD 199,312) was achieved at Forum Auctions on 7 December 2020.

2024 Auction Results

Welcome To Hell (signed) has sold once at auction in 2024, at Sotheby’s New-York on 22 October for USD 38,400.

Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 38,400

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 48/75 with the publisher’s blindstamp

2023 Auction Results

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold twice at auction in 2023, at Tate Ward Auction on 29 March 2023 for GBP 46,000 (USD 56,629), and at Forum Auctions on 22 February 2023 for GBP 60,300 (USD 74,169).

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 46,000 / USD 56,629

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 22/75 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Forum Auctions: 22 February 2023
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
Hammer Price: GBP 45,000
GBP 60,300 / USD 74,169

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated, and inscribed ‘DN’ in pencil lower left
From the numbered edition of 75 with the publisher’s blinstamp

2022 Auction Results

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 94,500 / USD 119,070

BANKSY
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower left
Numbered 49/75 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold 3 times at auction in 2021 at an average price of GBP 83,600 (USD 117,498). It sold at Bonhams in London on 25 February 2021 for GBP 94,000 (USD 132,712), its highest price for 2021.


Sotheby’s London: 26 May 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 63,000 / USD 89,400

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated, numbered 61/75, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Forum Auctions: 23 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 75,000 – 100,000
GBP 70,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 93,800 / USD 130,382

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (signed), 2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered from the edition on 75 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams London: 25 February 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 94,000 / USD 132,712
HIGHEST PRICE PAID FOR WELCOME TO HELL (SIGNED) IN 2021

BANKSY (British, born 1975)
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered ’25/75′ in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

2020 Auction Results

 

Sotheby’s online: 18 September 2020
GBP 63,000 / USD 81,900
BANKSY
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower left
Numbered 42/75 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

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