Banksy's Umbrella Rat is among the headliners of a street art auction next month.
The $50,000-valued work, discovered on a door in Berlin, is one of more than a dozen Banksy pieces appearing at Julien's Auctions on May 11.
Banksy's rat is synonymous with the anonymous artist
The presence of the anonymous British artist's motif, the rat, should ensure the black aerosol on metal door panel work performs well.
Also up for grabs at the Street Art & Contemporary Art sale in Los Angeles is Banksy's 2005 work Flying Copper, estimated at $15,000-$20,000, while his Black Bobby – an aerosol stencil of a British police officer from 2003 – is valued at $40,000.
"After 20 years of remaining completely anonymous, Banksy continues to bear huge influence on the art world, recently announcing the opening of his 'Walled Off Hotel' in Bethlehem, a political stunt meant to bring tourists to the war-torn town and encourage dialogue to break down barriers," explains the auction house.
The market for Banksy continues to be strong, although his auction record was set nine years ago. That was the occasion Keep It Spotless sold for $1.8m at Sotheby's New York.
RETNA's My Young Blue Blood, an enamel and acrylic on wood panel piece, will vie with Umbrella Rat for the most valuable artwork at the sale. It too has a $50,000 estimate.
An Andy Warhol screenprint of Mick Jagger has a $40,000 valuation, while STIK’s Sleeping Baby (Yellow) screen print can be had for an expected $8,000.
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