LONDON — An artwork by the renowned street artist Banksy, which carries a strong environmental message, is set to be auctioned next month with anticipated bids reaching as high as 5 million pounds (approximately $6.3 million). A portion of the proceeds from this auction will be directed toward aiding those affected by the wildfires in Los Angeles.
The auction house Sotheby’s announced on Tuesday that the piece titled “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” will be sold in London next month. The artwork is from the collection of Mark Hoppus, who is the bassist of the California-based skate-punk band Blink-182. Hoppus considers Banksy to be a fellow creative, sharing a similar outlook on art and social commentary.
Hoppus expressed that he has been attracted to Banksy’s work because of its clever humor and subversive nature, drawing parallels between street art, punk rock, and creative expression. He noted, “I believe that both street art and punk rock represent the spirit of those who feel marginalized, creating their own reality. It’s all about being free to express through art.” His appreciation for street art has only deepened since he recognized this connection.
“Crude Oil (Vettriano)” belongs to a series of works created in 2005, where Banksy provided a critical twist on classic paintings. In this series, he reimagined Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” and disrupted the scene in Edward Hopper’s “Nighthawks.” The intent behind the artwork is to highlight that significant harm to the environment is more often caused by multinational corporations than by graffiti artists or misguided youth.
This particular painting is based on “The Singing Butler,” a well-known work by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano that depicts a couple in formal clothing dancing on a beach while attendants hold umbrellas to shield them. Banksy has incorporated elements such as a sinking oil tanker and two figures struggling with a barrel of hazardous waste into the piece.
Hoppus conveyed his deep affection for the painting, recounting that he and his wife Skye fell in love with it upon first sight in 2011. The piece, which he describes as “distinctively Banksy yet unique,” has been a fixture in their homes in both London and Los Angeles.
The musician plans to allocate the funds from the sale towards purchasing works from emerging artists, while part of the proceeds will benefit the California Fire Foundation, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, and Cedars Sinai Hematology Oncology Research.
Banksy, who has never publicly confirmed his identity, rose to fame through his graffiti art in Bristol, England, eventually becoming one of the most recognized figures in contemporary art. His playful yet critical works feature themes that challenge authority and societal norms, such as depictions of police officers engaged in unexpected gestures of affection and other satirical representations of cultural issues.
The artist has achieved remarkable auction results, with some of his pieces fetching millions. Notably, his work “Love is in the Bin” broke records at Sotheby’s in October 2021, selling for nearly 18.6 million pounds ($25.4 million at that time), a piece that famously partially shredded itself during a previous auction due to a concealed mechanism in the frame.
Currently, the painting is showcased at Sotheby’s in New York until Thursday and will then be displayed in London from February 26 to March 4.
