Banksy's early works up for auction in California

Two prints of Banksy's Girl With Balloon are set to be auctioned in America.

The pieces are part of a collection from the artist’s former agent and photographer Steve Lazarides and are expected to sell for around $60,000 to $80,000 (£45,933 to £61,244) .

A previous sale of another print was destroyed at a Sotheby’s auction in October 2018, and became the work Love Is In The Bin.

Last month, a separate print of Girl With Balloon was stolen from Grove Gallery in London, before being recovered by police.

The auction also includes some of Banksy’s other earliest known works including a pink stencil of a rat holding a drill in a motorboat and a depiction of a rioter throwing flowers.

Darren Julien, executive director of Julien’s Auctions, said: “This astonishing collection assembled and lovingly kept for over 25 years by his closest associate and partner, Steve Lazarides, offers an unprecedented look at the history and path of the man that would become the world’s most famous and visionary artist named Banksy."

A pair of shoes worn by the Bristol street artist are also up for sale.

“Banksy, myself, and a couple of others, set up a company called Pictures On Walls and we really wanted to make cheap affordable art for the masses,” Mr Lazarides said.

“For a very short moment in time we made a difference, we made it okay for ordinary people to like art… It’s by far the proudest thing I’ve done. And by far the most powerful thing I think he’s done.”

The auction will be held on 31 October.

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