Girl With Balloon by banksy is one of the most popular works by the British artist. This image has become a symbol as it appears on walls, online and even on the arm of famous Canadian singer Justin Bieber who tattooed it on his arm in 2014.The English artist Banksy, anonymously, created his own language on the streets of the world, through the stencil It's from graffiti. His works are easily identifiable by their graphic language and their own characteristics. Children, policemen, rats or monkeys are some of the figures that the artist uses. Deeply figurative, these stencils critically address various social and political issues such as consumerism, political authority and terrorism. Currently, he is one of the most recognized and admired contemporary artists among the younger generations. Discover 10 facts about Girl With Balloon here.
1.When was Girl With Balloon created?
Girl With Balloon, also called Balloon Girl or Girl With A Balloon, was first created in London in 2002, and was originally plastered on the walls under Waterloo Bridge on Southbank, London. Another version appeared around the same time in Shoreditch, East London, on the walls of a print shop. Both the stencils are now lost, but the photographic image lives on.
2.The artwork 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 that the girl is releasing the balloon – anyway, banksy he wants the spectator 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 with the girl wearing a scarf on her head, to support the victims of the conflict in Syria. Two years later, the artist reworked the design 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 print?
banksy presented the first printings of Girl With Balloon in 2004–05 – there were at the time only 150 signed issues and 600 unsigned issues. When it was released, banksy offered autographed editions for just £150. Now they regularly sell for six-figure sums, including the most expensive print 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, an artist's proof signed with a gold balloon sold for £1,104,000 at Sotheby's in London - setting a new world record for a Banksy print.
6.Girl With Balloon is one of the most popular works among Banksy collectors
It is currently not possible to purchase Girl With Balloon directly from banksy or your 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 is important that the work comes with a certificate of authenticity frompest control to prove that it is a genuine impression of Banksy.
7. The work gained more recognition in newspapers and other media when it self-destructed at auction
Just seconds after a painting of Girl With Balloon was sold at Sotheby's in London in 2018, the artwork suddenly began to destroy itself through a shredder hidden inside the painting. The winning bidder went through with the purchase anyway, and the work was retitled Love Is In The Bin – the only original artwork ever to be 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 a staggering £18,582,000 at Sotheby's.
