20th Mar, 2024 12:15
Spring Country House & Fine Interiors Auction
BANKSY - Bad Girl (Emma) | a personalised hand-painted birthday card
BANKSY
(b.1974)
Bad Girl ("Emma"),
A birthday card, hand-painted in felt-tip pen and crayon, cut-out collage on gold cardstock,
opening to reveal the inscription "Bad Girl, You Ugly, You Stupid, You Smell Bad, XXX, But We Likes You All The Same, Robin Banksy Gunge",
16 x 14cms, in box frame (26.5 x 24.5 overall).
Provenance:
Emma Houghton, close friend and collaborator of Banksy throughout the 1990s.
Exhibition:
The Art of Banksy: Unauthorised, Manchester, October 2022- January 2023
The Art of Banksy: Unauthorised, Regent Street London, January 2024-February 2024
LETTER OF PROVENANCE:
In reference to the provenance of the birthday cards, flyers and shop sign, I met ‘Banksy’ in 1992, through mutual friends. We were friends throughout our 20’s, during the politically charged, hedonistic and creatively potent era of the 1990’s and early 2000’s. In the DIY ethos of the time, we set our own agenda; we worked, played, protested, travelled and established our independent professions, following our own unique course. His work-ethic, humour and moral stance were powerful even then.
The birthday cards were given to me by the artist over four consecutive years depicting his evolution from Robin, in a cuter pencil drawn cartoon style to Mr Banks and finally with the edgy stencilled wit, characteristic of Banksy. The flyers were designed by the artist and hand screen printed by him and myself to promote a club night put on by our sound system the Babble Collective in the mid 90’s. Most were cut apart and distributed for advertising, now collected world wide, but I gave this un cut sheet to a family member who unearthed them years later. The A board was commissioned for my corsetry business, to advertise my first shop in BS8 on Park Street in Bristol, I like to think she was me in my prime.
To watch Banksy’s career grow meteorically from its roots to become this national treasure has been incredible – not least due to the privately held knowledge of these works existence. Deciding to share them with the public through The Art of Banksy exhibition has allowed fans and followers to see this charming and sentimental side that is less of the known Banksy brand of today. Putting them up for auction is intended to allow others to fully appreciate their unique beauty in this current time.
These details and my identity have been shared to avoid speculation, to better establish authenticity and provenance of the pieces. It must be noted that there is no dirt to dish on the artist. That there is no axe to grind, nor will I disclose or confirm Banksy’s identity. I have had little to no contact with him in the last 20 years.
Sold for £11,000
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Auction: Spring Country House & Fine Interiors Auction, 20th Mar, 2024
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