Buyer Is Keeping Banksy Painting That Shredded Itself At Auction

The art collector who bought a painting at auction, from the unorthodox artist Banksy, will be keeping the art piece after a trick frame shredded the painting when it was sold.

By on October 12, 2018
(Photo by Tristan Fewings/Getty Images for Sotheby’s)

The buyer who purchased a painting at an auction from famed anonymous artist, Banksy, will be keeping the painting, even after the art piece infamously shredded itself after being sold.

According to The Guardian, the European collector, who paid over $1 million for the painting at auction, will carry through with the purchase of the art that self-destructed. Reportedly, some experts believe that the unique event that occurred may have, in fact, raised the original value of the painting.

Related: Madonna Loses Rights To Stop Auction Of Her Hair And Underwear

The original piece of artwork, Banksy’s Girl With Ballon, was partially shredded by a hidden shredder built into the frame, to the shock and disbelief of the auction crowd. Since the event, the piece has been renamed Love Is in the Bin, and has been officially certified by Banksy’s authentication body.

The bizarre and unique event sent ripples through the art world. The buyer of the new art piece gave her opinion, saying: “When the hammer came down last week and the work was shredded, I was at first shocked, but gradually I began to realise that I would end up with my own piece of art history.” Alex Branczik, an expert in European contemporary art, provided his thoughts as well. “Banksy didn’t destroy an artwork in the auction, he created one… the first artwork in history to have been created live during an auction.”

Would you carry through with a purchase that self-destructed in front of you?

To read more about the crazy event that sent a buzz through the art world, click here.

 

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