But instead of popping up in unexpected places, works by the anonymous British graffiti artist will appear in an exhibition at Wellington’s Tākina Convention Centre.
The Art of Banksy will open on Thursday 28 November 2024 and run until January 20, 2025.
Famous for his antiauthoritarian stencil art, the show includes the world’s largest collection of original and authenticated Banksy art showcasing more than 150 pieces including prints, canvases, unique works and fascinating ephemera. It comes direct from London, where the collection has been on display for the past two years.
Banksy recently made another stir with a series of works of zoo animals installed across London. Prior to that, a work depicting tree foliage with spray paint appeared in Islington.
Included in the Wellington exhibition are iconic works ‘Girl With Balloon’, in three colour variations, ‘Flower Thrower’ and ‘Rude Copper’ alongside unique works including hand drawn sketches and personal artworks which Banksy created for close friends.
The show will also feature the global exclusive of the first ‘Flower Thrower’.
Now one of Banksy’s most iconic artworks, Flower Thrower first came to global attention in 2003 when it appeared as a mural in the West Bank, Palestine, as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity and resistance making the artwork more important now than ever before. However, Banksy had already created an initial artwork in 1997, depicting a man throwing a bunch of flowers, as a Valentine’s Day gift for his then girlfriend.
The origins of the Flower Thrower image and testimonial video interview with Leonie Laws, Banksy’s former girlfriend, will accompany the artwork and shine a whole new light on this work and the artist.
“Following a hugely successful 18 city global tour and two years in London, UK, we’re very excited to bring this larger-than-ever collection to Wellington,” says Michel Boersma, curator and producer of the exhibit.
“Over the last 8 years we have been working with collectors in expanding the collection which we are able to display, from 70 in Auckland in 2018 to over 150 authenticated and genuine works, no replicas – the real deal,” Boersma says.
“I am particularly proud that trusted associates of Banksy, for example Ben Eine, have been willing to contribute to the exhibit with their privately held works, gifts and hand drawn sketches and video testimonials.” the curator reveals.
“This way The Art of Banksy is able to lift the veil on how some of the iconic Banksy works were created and reveals some of the secret stunts they got up to.”
The Art of Banksy is not curated or authorised by the artist and only displays authenticated art sold or gifted by the artist, no replicas or art has been removed from the street.
The Art of Banksy
Tākina
Wellington
November November 28 – January 20, 2025
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