Market Watch Banksy: Top 10 Most Investable Prints

Banksy's Flower Thrower Triptych (2017) features one of his most iconic motifs - a masked protester poised mid-action, hurling a bouquet of flowers. Produced in various forms, including signed and unsigned screenprints, limited edition triptychs, and a few exceptionally rare canvas versions, this imagery remains central to Banksy’s legacy. In February 2024, a triptych with a vibrant bouquet, set in the artist's original gold frame, was offered from the Sir Elton John Collection at Christie’s. It achieved an impressive £1.5 million, a result driven by the image's cultural resonance, rarity, and celebrity provenance. This sale marks Banksy’s highest auction result across the past two consecutive years, reaffirming the enduring power and market strength of this iconic work.

Banksy also produced Girl With Balloon as a screenprint in both signed and unsigned editions. This artwork has stood the test of time, and while its value has stabilised since its market peak, 2024 saw a notable rise in value compared to the previous year, reflected across multiple sales. In March 2024, a signed version sold for £239,400 at Christie's. That same month, highlighting the global appeal of the work, another signed edition achieved £237,821 at the hammer in New Zealand. Later in October, a signed version reappeared at Christie's, selling for £189,000. All three results exceeded the totals achieved across the print's three auction appearances in 2023, underscoring its continued market strength and international demand.

Explore The Banksy Shred to discover the iconic status of this artwork and its remarkable rise in value.

In 2019, Banksy released the Thrower (Grey) (2019) triptych. This print is an evolution of his renowned street art piece, Love Is In The Air (Flower Thrower) (2003), originally created in response to the West Bank Wall construction, a highly controversial and contested structure, separating parts of Israel and the West Bank. Its relevance recently heightened with ongoing geopolitical unrest, this work sold for £190,500 in April, making it Banksy's top-selling print for 2023.

Choose Your Weapon (CYW) (2010) is an iconic and exceptionally rare Banksy print, originally released in 15 distinct colourways. Fourteen of these were limited to just 25 prints each, alongside three exclusive VIP editions in gold, silver, and white. Introduced to the secondary market in 2012, two years after their initial release, early sales barely exceeded £10,000.

While values can vary depending on condition and colourway, these prints now consistently command prices well above £100,000, with the highest recorded sale surpassing £300,000. Choose Your Weapon (gold) achieved £172,500 in February 2023, securing its place among Banksy's top-selling prints in his current market.

Thrower (Grey) VIP (2019) appeared at Sotheby's in March 2023, achieving £152,400. This signed VIP edition, limited to 300, is uniquely presented across three gold-framed panels. Despite its relatively larger edition size, the work remains remarkably rare on the public market, with this sale marking only its fourth appearance. Its hammer price has shown some fluctuation, although it's value remain evident, in large part due to its iconic imagery.

Originally created as a graffiti stencil in 2008 in New Orleans, Louisiana, Nola was Banksy’s tribute to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Later that year, the artwork was released as a screenprint in various colourways and edition sizes. Increasingly rare on the market, Nola (yellow rain) (2008) is an edition size of 31. In March 2023, this piece achieved £151,200 at Christie's, marking its first appearance since 2021 and securing its position among Banksy's highest valued prints.

Choose Your Weapon (Dark Blue) (2010) is an exceptionally rare piece within Banksy's CYW collection. Released later as an Artist Proof (AP) version, it also exists as an impression of a unnumbered edition, dedicated print in this distinctive colourway. In April 2023, a dedicated impression appeared at Sotheby’s, achieving a record-breaking £139,700 - its rarity and unique dedication significantly enhancing its value.

Later, in September 2023, an Artist Proof (AP) - part of a limited edition of 58 produced in various colourways - came to auction at Christie’s, also achieving a commendable result of £126,000. These strong results underscore the continued demand and significance of this rare edition and colourway in Banksy’s print market.

Download The Banksy Report: Seven Years In The Banksy Print Market.

Nola (Orange Rain) (2008), a signed edition of just 32, reappeared at auction in February 2023 at Forum, achieving £127,500. Since Banksy's peak print market years the value of this work has stabilised, yet it is still commendable, supported by the print's rarity and deep cultural significance, which continue to sustain its appeal in the market.

Love Is In The Air (Flower Thrower) (2003) showcases Banksy's iconic hooded figure, mid-gesture, against a striking red background. Released in a signed edition of 50, this print was widely circulated during the peak of the Banksy boom. In recent years, appearances of this print on the public market have become increasingly rare, with just one sale recorded in 2023 (£114,700) and another in 2024 (£63,500). These results indicate a stabilisation in value, supported by the artwork's instantly recognisable imagery and enduring iconic status, which continue to drive its long-term market appeal.

In today’s market, Banksy’s unsigned edition of Girl With Balloon continues to perform strongly, despite its relatively high circulation. Over the past two years, the highest recorded sale for an unsigned version reached £155,852 at Julien's Auctions in the United States. These unsigned prints, particularly those featuring Banksy’s most iconic imagery, consistently achieve competitive results, highlighting their ongoing appeal and the lucrative opportunities they offer for collectors.

Laugh Now (2003) features a chimpanzee with a sign hanging over its shoulders, boldly declaring, “Laugh Now, but one day we'll be in charge.” Like many of Banksy's animal-themed works, this piece represents marginalised individuals, hinting at a future shift in power dynamics. Its sardonic tone and rebellious spirit have kept it in the spotlight since 2017, and this momentum continues in Banksy's current market. In January 2023 this work achieved £75,600 and remains among Banksy's highest valued prints.

Unsigned editions of Love Is In The Air (Flower Thrower) have consistently performed well, offering a more accessible entry point into Banksy’s market compared to their signed counterparts. Released in a sizable edition of 500, these prints were widely circulated in 2023 but appeared only once in 2024. The highest result across both years was achieved in Switzerland in 2023, reaching £58,695. This price reflects a more stabilised value following the peak years of Banksy’s market.

Banksy's Rude Copper prints embody a spirit of anarchy and rebellion, standing as one of his earliest and most defining creations. Released in both signed and unsigned editions, along with rare Anarchy versions and coloured proofs. This particular example, unsigned and unnumbered, features a distinctive orange spray-painted finish.

Part of the enduring appeal of the Rude Copper prints lies in its provenance, tracing back to Santa's Ghetto - a pivotal moment in Banksy's rise to prominence. In July 2023, this print achieved £60,960 at Phillips, securing its place among Banksy’s highest-selling unsigned works.

In 2023, Banksy's CCCP (unsigned) print made a rare appearance on the public market, marking its first since 2020 and only the second overall. What sets this print apart is its absence of signature and edition number, leaving its actual size unknown. Featuring the stencilled flower thrower over red spray-painted block letters CCCP, this early Banksy print fetched £53,340 at Phillips and ranks among Banksy's highest valued unsigned works.

Banksy's Pulp Fiction (2004) seamlessly merges pop culture references with street art influences, offering a distinctive commentary on the intersection of film and art. As one of Banksy's most popular and recognisable prints, the unsigned edition appeared over ten times in 2024 alone. However, the highest result in the current market was recorded in September 2023 at Sotheby's, where an unsigned version achieved £38,100.

Rats are one of the most recognisable motifs in Banksy's body of work, symbolising resilience, rebellion, and societal underdogs. Love Rat (2004) juxtaposes the image of a rat - often seen as a nuisance - with the act of painting a crimson red heart, a symbol of universal love and hope. However, the dripping paint adds a layer of irony, hinting at pain or betrayal, a sentiment reinforced by Banksy’s own description of the print in 2004 as “the ideal gift for a cheating spouse.” Originally released by Pictures on Walls for £74.99 for an unsigned edition, Love Rat appeared three times at auction in 2023, with a notable sale at SBI Art Auction in Japan achieving £33,541 in July. This result underscores Banksy’s continued global market influence.

Jack & Jill (Police Kids) (2005) presents an initially cheerful yet deceptively dark image, showing two children skipping arm in arm while wearing bulletproof police vests against a bright sky-blue background. This juxtaposition raises questions about society's ability to protect children's innocence and freedom, echoing the cautionary undertones of the classic nursery rhyme. With its poignant message, this print remains highly coveted by collectors. In 2023, the unsigned edition sold for £32,760 at Christie’s, solidifying its status as one of Banksy’s highest valued prints.

Barcode (2004) presents a surreal image of a barcode on wheels with a central hole, from which a leopard emerges, stalking towards the viewer. Rich with layered meaning, the artwork serves as a commentary on societal issues, including consumerism and the commodification of nature. Its themes now resonate even more closely with Banksy's London Zoo murals, which appeared across London in the summer of 2024, creating a powerful visual connection between the two bodies of work.

Originally stenciled on the side of a house on Pembroke Road in Bristol, the piece was later removed and eventually resurfaced during an exhibition in Somerset. In 2023, an unsigned edition of Barcode sold at Christie’s for £32,760, solidifying its place as one of Banksy’s highest-valued prints over the past two years.

Flying Copper (2003) depicts the traditional British police uniform adorned with a cheerful yellow smiley face as the head and angel wings sprouting from the back. This juxtaposition of joy and menace serves as a cautionary reminder, albeit somewhat unsettling, to be wary of those in positions of power. Released as an unsigned edition of 600 prints, this artwork gained moderate popularity on the art market in 2023, selling six times with its highest sale reaching £29,397 at Heffel Online, and ranks among one of Banksy's highest valued unsigned prints.