12 - Banksy (British Street Artist, born 1974)

Banksy (British Street Artist, born 1974) “RIOT COP” (2002) Rare pencil drawing and 2 handwritten Banksy letters with unique insight to the artists way of marketing his own brand in the early days. Hand-signed by Banksy (Signed in the drawing) Framed in a bespoke acrylic box frame DESCRIPTION – The drawing shows a window display formulated for a Banksy show at TomTom Gallery in London (Banksy’s gallery at the time), with ideas for the window graphics/paint/artwork incorporating "Fuck the Police" and Banksy. This is as an early example of his now iconic signature. – One sheet of text is an artist biography written in a typical Banksy tongue-in-cheek, self-deprecating manner where amongst other things he describes himself as "rapidly establishing a reputation as Britain´s least wanted artist”. – Banksy also adds in an addendum that he does not "condone vandalism or any other form of illegal activity" pre-emting any admission of graffiti/illegal activity. 20 x 30 cm (7.87 by 11.8 inch.) CONDITION (Please refer to department for a Condition Report) In accordance with the terms and conditions of this sale and as agreed by bidders upon registering for this auction, all lots are final and will be sold "as-is." PROVENANCE – Gary Clive Mitchell - Former owner of TomTom Gallery (later Art Republic), as a gift from Banksy. – Gallery ‘Punk Daisy’, owned by James Allen, Antwerpen, Belgium. NOTE – In 2002 Banksy was in talks with the TomTom Gallery in London about putting on a show in their bijou gallery in Covent Garden. The here offered sketch was his proposal for a show at TomTom gallery. – If the viewer shifts their position the entire – more supportive – slogan is revealed: “Good luck to tha police”, making sense of the peace signs. The ‘TomTom show’ didn’t happen, but the plan for a London show grew, incorporating the proposed TomTom window display into what would become the much more ambitious Turf War show in 2003. That show took place in an abandoned warehouse in Dalston, East London. EXHIBITIONS – Vanina Holasek / Bankrobber Gallery, NYC, 1 - 29 Dec. 2007. Full page in the catalogue. – Læsø Kunsthal, Summer 2019, "The Political Art". – Exhibited MACA Museum Copenhagen; “Banksy & Street Art The Early Years”. May 1st 2024 - 2026