World first Urban Art Auction

Bonhams, New Bond Street sale room London


Above: Nick walker's 'Moona Lisa' [pict by www.artofthestate.co.uk/ Banksy/santas_ghetto]


Above: Banksy 'Laugh Now' [pict by www.heliumfoundation.co.uk/ august.html]

Once marginalized by the art world for their counter-cultural aesthetic and edgy rawness, urban artists have finally, conclusively, been assimilated into the establishment. What was once an underground, often illegal group of artist is now one of the most sort after movements in the modern art world. Bonhams sale f Urban Art - the first of its kind in the world created great interest with over 500 people crammed into the packed New Bond Street sale room on February 5th. The fresh, exciting, edgy and challenging works saw an incredible 99% of the work sold.

Gareth Williams, specialist of the sale comments: "We are delighted at the results of the sale. The Urban Art sale is unique in terms of the unprecedented media coveradge, the phenomenal level of interest from buyers before the sale and the way that it has captured the public imagination. the results achieved are consistently strong across the board not only for artists such as banksy and Keith Haring but also for emerging names whose works have not previously sold at auction. The artists work sold at the auction, included but not limited to: Banksy, Keith Haring, Dan Baldwin, Anthony Micallef, Adam Neate and Faile.

Banksy whose work has earned him many admirers had a number of works in the auction. His large stencil print on wood 'Laugh Now' was the higest selling piece of the day fetching £190,000. Other works included Nick Walker's 'Moona Lisa' which sold for £45,000.