Looks like the Sotheby’s just got Banksyed.
A Banksy artwork has “self-destructed” a few moments after it sold for more than £1 million (about $1.3 million).
The Girl with Red Balloon is probably Banksy’s most popular work. It was sold at an auction in the Sotheby’s Contemporary Art Evening Sale in London. It was one of the most anticipated pieces of the night.
However, right after the painting was sold to the winning bid of £860,000 (£1,042,000 including buyer’s premium) at around 9PM that night, the artwork was shredded on the frame through a remote mechanism.
Banksy shared this moment on Instagram.
The shredded artwork then came out the bottom in strips.
It is said that if a piece is damaged while in the care of an auction house, a buyer would not normally be expected to go through with the sale.
However, since this seemed like it was going on a very Banksy-like fashion, the Girl With Red Balloon might be worth even more in its shredded state.
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