Cover Image: Banksy, Seal Wall, 2018
Taglialatella Galleries, New York – presents its second solo exhibition of works by the anonymous, notorious street artist, Banksy. A pioneering figure in the public world of graffiti art—as well as a powerful force in the private art market and at international auction—Banksy’s work achieves the dual effect of both shocking and playing to the humor of his audience through the social and political commentary which guides his work. In Banksy: Beyond the Wall, a large collection of unique works on canvas, limited edition prints, mixed-media originals and a large-scale graffiti work from the street, reveals an expansive body of themes, mediums and styles throughout his prolific yet mystifying career.
Spotlighting key artworks in Banksy’s provocative art practice, the exhibition includes iconic images like Pulp Fiction, NOLA, Choose Your Weapon, Laugh Now, Morons and the famous Girl with Balloon—the image that went viral following Banksy’s stunt at Sotheby’s London auction in 2018; Just as the final hammer went down at over one-million dollars, the painting was pulled through a hidden shredder within its ornate frame, irreversibly destroying the artwork. In keeping with the artist’s subversive approach to art-making, this public hoax had the effect of both seriously critiquing the temporality of “timeless” works and poking fun at the people who buy them.
The theme of impermanence is one that continues to resonate within Banksy’s artwork both in terms of content and their physical existence—releasing his street murals to the will of the public much like the Girl sets free her Balloon. For instance, Banksy’s mural depicting a seal balancing a ball on his nose at a former Mobil gas and service station on Coney Island Avenue was, in 2018, slated for demolition. The fragility of this work and others that had been defaced became immediately apparent—motivating the artist’s admirers to extract the wall entirely for further preservation.
Taglialatella Galleries is pleased to announce that the Coney Island Avenue Seal Mural (2017) will be available along with a remarkable collection of secondary-market items, encapsulating the salacious career of the mysterious artist. Through this exhibition, Banksy’s position within the lineage of street art masters is delineated through both his politically-conscious artistic production and behind-the-scenes exploits, which continue to strengthen those messages.
An opening event will be held Thursday, October 17 from 6 pm to 8 pm at Taglialatella Galleries’ flagship location: 229 10th Avenue, New York, NY 10011. For more information about the exhibition or to RSVP to the opening event please contact us at [email protected].
