Four screenprints by Banksy from the 2000s are featured in Artnet Auctions’s Contemporary Editions sale, running through August 28, 2025. The lots include 'Bomb Love (Bomb Hugger)' (est. $25,000–$35,000), 'Welcome to Hell (Pink)' (est. $30,000–$50,000), and 'Morons (Sepia)' (est. $25,000–$35,000), tracing the artist’s rise from Bristol street graffiti to international fame. The article highlights key milestones: his 2002 Los Angeles show 'Existencilism,' his counterfeit £10 notes featuring Princess Diana, and the Oscar-nominated documentary 'Exit Through the Gift Shop.'
This sale matters because it encapsulates how Banksy’s blend of satire, anti-capitalist messaging, and illegal public interventions turned him into a household name and a market force. The works on offer illustrate the moment when street art crossed over into the auction mainstream, challenging traditional art-world hierarchies. Banksy’s enduring appeal—fueled by anonymity, subversive themes, and high-profile sales—has made him one of the most influential artists of the 21st century, and this auction provides a snapshot of his pivotal aughts period.