Banksy's bullet-proof vest to be auctioned

PA Media Stormzy performing on stage wearing Banksy's bullet proof vest with a spray painted Union Jack flag on it. He is lit up by a blue hue coming from behind him. He is holding the microphone up to his mouth in his right hand and has his right arm outstretched to pump up the crowd.PA Media
Bristol's anonymous street artist designed a similar vest which was worn by Stormzy when he headlined Glastonbury Festival

A bullet-proof vest emblazoned with a Union flag by Banksy could sell for up to £300,000 at auction.

Sotheby’s said it will be the first item to be auctioned from a collection of five artworks, which Bristol's elusive street artist displayed in a shop window in Croydon, London, in 2019.

Five years ago, Stormzy wore a similar vest while headlining Glastonbury Festival.

Head of contemporary evening sale at Sotheby’s Emma Baker said: “In a way only Banksy can, he manages to powerfully condense a complex social issue through one redolent object."

The stab-proof vest, which was made from a former police issue garment, features an image of the Union Jack flag and alludes to the high levels of knife crime and gang violence across UK cities.

Yui Mok/PA Wire A close up of Stormzy on stage, wearing Banksy's bullet proof vest with a Union Jack flag spray painted onto it. Yui Mok/PA Wire
The vest is made from an authentic former police-issue garment

Ms Baker continued: “Given an iconic stature by Stormzy during his legendary Glastonbury performance, this reinterpretation of a classic piece of modern day police-issue armour is Banksy at his best.

“There is no doubt this artwork is more pertinent now than when the first vest debuted at Glastonbury – an event that saw it become the symbol of a defining cultural moment.”

The artwork will be shown during Frieze Festival, a high-end contemporary art exhibition in London, before it is sold at auction.

It will then be displayed at the company’s New Bond Street Galleries from 3 to 9 October.

Haydon Perrior The Sotheby's auction at which the renamed Love Is In The Bin piece by Banksy was sold. There is an auctioneer standing behind a podium at the front, in front of a large blue wall. He is wearing a dark suit and blue tie with his arms outstretched as he collects bids. On the right the artwork is displayed. It is a spray painted girl reaching for a red heart-shaped balloon. The piece has been shredded and is half-hanging out of its gold frame.Haydon Perrior
The highly-anticipated sale of Love Is In The Bin saw nine bidders battle for around 10 minutes

On 5 October 2018, Sotheby’s auctioned off Banksy’s 'Girl With Balloon', one of the artist's best known works made in 2006.

Moments after the piece was sold for £1.042m, the canvas of a girl reaching for a heart-shaped balloon shredded itself through the frame.

Later re-named 'Love Is In The Bin', the work returned to auction in 2021 and was sold for a record £18.6m.

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