Banksy
Banksy
Banksy
Gangsta Rat - Colour AP (Lime Green)
Lot Closed
April 20, 02:09 PM GMT
Estimate
80,000 - 120,000 GBP
Lot Details
Description
Banksy
b. 1974
Gangsta Rat Colour A/P - Lime Green
Screenprint in colours, 2004, signed in pencil, dated, inscribed AP/41, one of 10 artist's proofs printed in this colour combination, from the total edition of 61 artist's proofs printed in yellow, light grey, dark grey, blue, orange and red, published by Pictures on Walls, London, on wove paper, framed
sheet: 500 by 351mm 19¾ by 13⅞in
This lot was previously accompanied by a certificate of authenticity issued before 2020. In accordance with Pest Control Office regulations an updated certificate is due to be issued. Please note that the timing of Pest Control Office’s processes is outside of Sotheby’s control.
“I’d been painting rats for three years before someone said ‘that’s clever it’s an anagram of art’ and I had to pretend I’d known that all along.”
(Banksy, ed., Wall and Piece, London 2005, p. 88)
Rats appear throughout Banksy’s varied body of work, often unashamedly sowing havoc. His mischievous rodents are rebels with a cause, apparently on a mission to save humanity from itself with cheeky missives, such as “Get Out While You Can” and reminders such as, “Its [sic] Not A Race.” Though rats might typically incite disgust and fear, Banksy’s roguish and spirited creatures are celebrated as valiant defenders of the victims of Capitalism.
Gangsta Rat, one of the artist’s most widely recognized motifs, depicts a laidback rat sporting a baseball cap and chain necklace, resting by a boombox while seemingly freshly sprayed graffiti drips above. The graffiti spells out "POW", referring to Banksy’s print publisher, Pictures on Walls. The present work is a scarce artist’s proof with lime green lettering, and is one of only ten impressions printed in this colourway.