Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' self-destructs after selling for £1M at Sotheby's

During the week of Frieze London, Sotheby's evening auction for Contemporary Art concluded dramatically as Banksy's 'Girl with Balloon' self-destructed after fetching £953,000, surpassing its estimate of £200,000-300,000. As the gavel fell, a concealed shredder activated, tearing half of the canvas. A person dressed in black was apprehended but later released. Banksy took to Instagram to acknowledge the event, sharing an image of the shredded artwork. This piece, originally a mural created in 2002, was verified by Pest Control and had been acquired from the artist in 2006. The buyer's identity and plans remain undisclosed. Earlier, Sotheby's also auctioned pieces from David Teiger's collection, achieving a record £8.2 million for Jenny Saville's 'Propped'. Meanwhile, Christie's concurrent auctions amassed £84.6 million and £39.5 million, with some notable items left unsold.