Girl With Balloon by Banksy is one of the British artist's most popular works. This image became a symbol, appearing on walls, online, and even on the arm of the famous Canadian singer Justin Bieber, who had it tattooed on his arm in 2014. The English artist Banksy, An anonymous artist, he created his own language on the streets of the world through stencils and graffiti. His works are easily identifiable due to their graphic language and distinctive characteristics. Children, police officers, rats, and monkeys are some of the figures the artist uses. Deeply figurative, these stencils critically address various social and political themes such as consumerism, political authority, and terrorism. Currently, he is one of the most recognized and admired contemporary artists among younger generations. Discover 10 facts about Girl With Balloon here.
1. When was Girl With Balloon created?
Girl With Balloon, also known as Balloon Girl or Girl With A Balloon, was first created in London in 2002 and was originally stenciled on the walls beneath Waterloo Bridge in London's Southbank. Another version appeared around the same time in Shoreditch, East London, on the walls of a print shop. Both stencils are now lost, but the photographic image lives on.
2. The work of art is a symbol of hope
The original stencil on Southbank was accompanied by a quote that read, "There is always hope." Some people interpret Girl With Balloon as a symbol of lost innocence, while others believe the girl is releasing the balloon—either way, Banksy wants the viewer to maintain hope, even when it is out of reach.
3. It can also be a symbol of activism Banksy created variations of Girl With Balloon to address political issues.
In 2014, the British artist created a version featuring the girl in a headscarf to support victims of the conflict in Syria. Two years later, the artist redesigned the image to feature a Union Jack balloon and offered a free print to Bristol residents who voted against the Conservative government.
4.When Banksy presented Girl With Balloon as a print?
Banksy released the first printings of Girl With Balloon in 2004–05 – there were then only 150 signed editions and 600 unsigned editions. When it was released, Banksy offered signed editions for just £150. They now regularly sell for six-figure sums, including the most expensive printing of Banksy already sold.
5. How many balloon colors are there?
There are five color variations for Girl With Balloon, the red balloon is the most iconic, but Banksy also created versions in purple, blue, pink, and gold. In March 2021, a signed artist's proof of a gold balloon sold for £1,104,000 at Sotheby's in London—setting a new world record for a print. Banksy.
6. Girl With Balloon is one of the most popular works among art collectors. Banksy.
It is currently not possible to purchase Girl With Balloon directly from Banksy or its handling service, Pest Control. Therefore, any prints of the work on the secondary market are sought after by collectors. If you want to buy or sell a print of Girl With Balloon, it's important that the work comes with a certificate of authenticity from Pest Control to prove it's a genuine print. Banksy.
7. The work gained further recognition in newspapers and other media when it self-destructed at auction.
Just seconds after a painting of Girl With Balloon sold at Sotheby's in London in 2018, the artwork suddenly began to destroy itself through a shredder hidden inside the frame. The winning bidder went ahead with the purchase anyway, and the work was renamed Love Is In The Bin—the only original artwork ever created live at auction. On October 14, 2021, Love Is In The Bin became the Banksy most expensive ever sold at auction, when it fetched an impressive £18,582,000 at Sotheby's.
