Banksy's Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia Print Sells for Record £1.23M at Phillips
In October 2020, Phillips London auctioned the most costly Banksy print to date, Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia (2/8), fetching £1,232,500. This unique piece merges two of Banksy’s renowned images—Girl with Balloon and Morons—into a double-sided artwork that reveals different aspects when illuminated. Limited to only eight editions, it ranks among the rarest of Banksy prints. Notably, this particular print featured the artist's spray-painted enhancement on the girl's figure. This sale eclipsed the former record set by Girl with Balloon Gold AP, which was sold for £1.104 million at Sotheby's London in 2021. The print originated from a private collection in Los Angeles, purchased directly from Pest Control.
Key facts
- Girl with Balloon & Morons Sepia (2/8) sold for £1,232,500 at Phillips London in October 2020.
- The print combines Girl with Balloon and Morons into a double-sided composition.
- Only eight examples were produced, making it one of the rarest Banksy print editions.
- The work was estimated at £500,000–£700,000 before selling for more than double the low estimate.
- Banksy added a spray-painted intervention on the figure of the girl, adding uniqueness.
- The previous record for a Banksy print was Girl with Balloon Gold AP at £1.104 million in 2021.
- The print was from a private collection in Los Angeles, acquired directly from Pest Control.
- The sale demonstrates how rarity, provenance, and cultural significance drive value in the Banksy market.
Entities
Artists
Institutions
- Phillips
- Sotheby's
- Pest Control
- GraffitiStreet
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Los Angeles
- United States
- Chichester
- England