In 2018, Banksy's painting, Girl with Balloon went up for auction. As the gavel sounded to announce a winning bid of about $1 million, everyone in the room was stunned to see the painting begin to self-destruct. Banksy had concealed a shredder in the bottom of the gold frame. Interestingly, the shredding only increased the value of the piece. When it went up for auction again in 2021, the shredded painting sold for over $20 million. Banksy has become a polarizing figure in the art world. Some dismiss him as a petty vandal seeking publicity with cheap gimmicks and pranks. Others see him as a significant figure elevating street art with pieces that are thoughtful and subversive mixing political statements with humor to make them more palatable.

Other artists referenced in this episode:

Keith Haring

Jean-Michel Basquiat

Man Ray

Pablo Picasso

Vincent van Gogh

Edvard Munch

Check out my other podcasts Art Smart | Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

Who ARTed is an Airwave Media Podcast. If you are interested in advertising on this or any other Airwave Media show, email: [email protected]

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices