First ever Banksy piece heading to auction in Czechia

The auction of Banksy’s print on paper, called Gold Flag, is held by Art Capital auction house and is set to take place on November 10 at the Mánes Gallery in central Prague. First produced in 2006, the piece blends Banksy’s signature humour with a serious message, says Andrea Otevřelová, the manager of the exhibition hall:

“Gold Flag depicts teenage gang members raising an American flag over a car wreck, drawing a parallel to the iconic 1945 photograph by Joe Rosenthal, which captured six soldiers raising the American flag on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. It invites viewers to reflect on the value and significance of national symbols in contemporary society.”

The print, which comes from a private Czech collector, comes with a certificate of authenticity from Pest Control, the body that Banksy created to authenticate his work. It is accompanied by another Banksy’s artwork, a ten-pound note depicting Princess Diana in place of Queen Elizabeth.

Banksy, who first emerged on the streets of Bristol in the early 1990s, is widely regarded as one of the most influential contemporary artists. His artworks often fetch hundreds of thousands of dollars at auction, and his pieces can be found on walls across the globe, from Britain and the United States to the Gaza Strip.

Named one of Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in 2010, Banksy refers to himself as an “art terrorist.” His works address significant issues such as the coronavirus pandemic, the migration crisis, racial tensions in the United States, and the war in Ukraine.

Gold Flag by Banksy isn’t the only piece by an anonymous artist available at the auction at Mánes. Also up for bidding is a canvas by Bambi, a British street artist often dubbed the “female Banksy,” whose work frequently delves into contemporary female identity and societal roles. Andrea Otevřelová highlights another two noteworthy artworks by foreign artists:

“First up is Keith Haring, a renowned foreign artist whose original work is being auctioned for the very first time in the Czech Republic. What’s particularly intriguing is that this piece comes from the estate of the equally famous American painter Basquiat.

“The second highlight is a work by Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, a key figure in 20th-century art, with his piece from 1989 also making its auction debut. This mixed media work is on cardboard.”

All the artworks scheduled for auction are currently on display at the Mánes Exhibition Hall located on Prague’s Masaryk embankment.