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Two art collectors are taking legal action against artist over his ‘refusal’ to confirm the authenticity of one of his famous images
His identity has long been a matter of speculation and investigation, but Banksy may be forced to reveal his real name if a dispute over a print of the late Queen Elizabeth depicted as a bejewelled primate ends up in court.
Two art collectors are taking legal action against the graffiti artist’s company, Pest Control, following its apparent refusal to confirm the authenticity of Monkey Queen. After three years of trying to get an answer, Nicky Katz and Ray Howse have lost patience and are suing Pest Control for breach of contract.
They point to Pest Control’s website, which states that it will issue a certificate of authenticity for “paintings, prints, sculptures and other attempts at creativity”. It likens the certificate to “an MOT for the art world”: “[It] means you can buy, sell or insure a piece of art knowing it’s legitimate and the wheels won’t fall off.”
Banksy, known for his stencil-based images, has described himself as a “quality vandal” ridiculing authority figures through artworks in public places. His partially shredded painting Love is in the Bin sold for more than £18.5m at auction in 2021, while his signed prints sell for five and six figures. Pest Control was set up by the artist in 2008 after fake prints were sold online and it plays a key role in the market for his work. An authentication certificate is vital to achieve the maximum price when selling his work, it has been claimed.
www.theguardian.com
His identity has long been a matter of speculation and investigation, but Banksy may be forced to reveal his real name if a dispute over a print of the late Queen Elizabeth depicted as a bejewelled primate ends up in court.
Two art collectors are taking legal action against the graffiti artist’s company, Pest Control, following its apparent refusal to confirm the authenticity of Monkey Queen. After three years of trying to get an answer, Nicky Katz and Ray Howse have lost patience and are suing Pest Control for breach of contract.
They point to Pest Control’s website, which states that it will issue a certificate of authenticity for “paintings, prints, sculptures and other attempts at creativity”. It likens the certificate to “an MOT for the art world”: “[It] means you can buy, sell or insure a piece of art knowing it’s legitimate and the wheels won’t fall off.”
Banksy, known for his stencil-based images, has described himself as a “quality vandal” ridiculing authority figures through artworks in public places. His partially shredded painting Love is in the Bin sold for more than £18.5m at auction in 2021, while his signed prints sell for five and six figures. Pest Control was set up by the artist in 2008 after fake prints were sold online and it plays a key role in the market for his work. An authentication certificate is vital to achieve the maximum price when selling his work, it has been claimed.
Legal row could finally force mystery artist Banksy to reveal his real name
Two art collectors are taking legal action against artist over his ‘refusal’ to confirm the authenticity of one of his famous images
