He also released the following statement: ‘In Ukraine I saw a Legacy of War team sweep in and provide medical attention, heaters, fresh water and a friendly face to some very desperate people in a bombed out building. They also lent me one of their ambulances to work from, which turned out to be extremely useful when an angry babushka found me painting on her building and called the Police. I feel the least I should do is raise enough money to replace the number plates on the ambulance I hotted up.’
‘Banksy’s murals in Ukraine, and his subsequent fundraising print release, are a continuation of the artist’s constant support for charities helping those in the most desperate of situations,’ says Baskerville.
Editions can be signed or unsigned, and a Pest Control certificate is essential
Banksy’s unsigned prints are created in higher edition numbers. As a result, they are more affordable than their signed counterparts. Unsigned and signed artworks are equally legitimate — a certificate from Pest Control, Banksy’s ‘handling service’, is the proof of authenticity that you need.
Banksy set up Pest Control in 2008 to authenticate his artworks and prevent fakes from circulating on the market. All Banksy artworks created after 2009 were sold with a Pest Control certificate. The service can retroactively issue certificates for works created before 2008. Pest Control is now the only channel through which to buy new primary-market works by the artist.
Baskerville warns that there are fake Pest Control certificates in circulation. ‘If you’re unsure about your certificate, you can have it checked via Pest Control’s ‘Keeping It Real’ service. All of the works that we offer are reviewed by Pest Control prior to sale.’
Banksy’s works are currently only available on the secondary market
‘It’s not possible to buy a new work by Banksy on the primary market these days,’ says Baskerville. ‘A decade ago, the artist was selling directly through certified dealers, at exhibitions, or through his former printers, Pictures on Walls. But today he only sells directly, and nothing is currently available.’
If you are acquiring a Banksy on the secondary market, the specialist’s advice is to buy from a trusted source such as a big auction house or a reputable dealer. All Banksy artworks offered at Christie’s have been authenticated and come with Pest Control certificates.