Banksy

Storage, Display and Restoration: Caring for your Banksy Print

A guide to storage, display and restoration of your Banksy print.

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a guide to caring for your banksy print

artist banksy

Joe co-founded MyArtBroker in 2010, bringing over 17 years of experience trading Urban & Contemporary prints, editions, and originals on the secondary market. Joe leads the specialist side of the business, with deep expertise in Urban and Contemporary Art, particularly in the Banksy market.

Joe’s unparalleled knowledge of the Banksy market, combined with his dedication to connecting private collectors and investors, has earned him a stellar reputation within the collecting community. He is passionate about breaking down the traditional barriers of the art world, removing the smoke and mirrors that often cloud the established art market, and ensuring transparency and accessibility for all.

As the company’s Head of Urban and Contemporary Art, Joe plays a crucial role in ensuring that MyArtBroker continues to provide top-tier expertise and insights to collectors in the fast-evolving print market.


Co-Founder & Specialist

Joe Syer

No Ball Games (green) by Banksy © MyArtBroker

No Ball Games (green) by Banksy - MyArtBroker

 print requires considerably less protection and conservation than a painting by an Old Master, there are still many important factors to consider when buying, framing and hanging an artwork by the street artist. Here we caught up with our recommended conservators, 

, to get some expert tips on collecting and caring for your Banksy collection.

Before buying a Banksy print,there are certain things you can do to ensure the work you are investing in is in good condition. Always examine the front and back – we would recommend viewing the artwork in normal, raking and transmitted light wherever possible. Collectors should also seek to view the work unframed if possible as artwork edges – which are often concealed by a window-mount or frame – can reveal a lot about the artwork's condition. When considering an artwork's condition, a collector should look out for planar distortions, stains, tears, bits of tape, uneven paper tone, discolouration, creases, cracked or flaking media, and scratches. It is also worth bearing in mind that spray paint editions may be more vulnerable in the long term, as they tend to be executed on less stable materials than the screen prints.

Condition

What should collectors look out for before buying a Banksy print?

“When considering purchasing a Banksy print, condition and provenance are everything. Look for any signs of moisture damage, handling creases or poor framing which could indicate past exposure to acidic mounts or UV light. Always check that the work has been authenticated through Pest Control, this is essential for both value and legitimacy.” 

Laugh Now

To the untrained eye a print might not look damaged at all, and this is where a 

 comes in handy. A condition report should be produced by a conservator who is trained both to recognise, and also to interpret potential issues. It highlights, describes and discusses all of the issues mentioned above. It may also include potential treatment and future care guidance and provides a reference against which future changes can be monitored. If you are still unsure, we recommend having the work examined unframed by a conservator prior to purchase, this would enable assessment of the artwork condition, its frame and framing materials, and appropriate recommendations for future display.

Condition report

How can a condition report help?

Stop And Search

As well as guarding your investment, good 

 practice ensures an artwork can be enjoyed by generations to come. Artworks are complex objects which carry aesthetic, political and social significance – to preserve them allows future generations to connect to the artists and people who came before them. While it might make headlines, and a new artwork, when 

While not-shredding your print is a fairly straightforward imperative, the broader world of conservation and art print restoration may seem overwhelming at first. Help is always at hand. A collector should seek the advice of conservators, reputable art professionals, and reputable framers when considering how best to care for, house and display artwork. It is also important to remember that some deterioration is inevitable and that this is part of the inherent conflict between the preservation of art on paper and its exposure to light and environmental conditions during display. Art is made to be seen and so a compromise will always need to be made between the display of an artwork and its preservation.

Conservation & Restoration

Why is it important to conserve or restore your Banksy print?

You might have found the perfect spot on the wall for that 

 but have you considered how the sun hits it, or how seasonal changes will affect the paper? Works on paper should be displayed away from sources of light, heat, high and fluctuating humidity. Kitchens, bedrooms, bathrooms, pool houses, boats are all best avoided, and would require very specific display solutions.

UV-filtering glass will cut out the most harmful wavelengths but does not prevent damage brought about by visible light – damage caused by light exposure is "cumulative and permanent" and small measures such as switching of lights and keeping curtains closed when a display area is not in use can make a big difference.

Displaying

What factors are involved in displaying a Banksy print at home?

“Banksy prints are screenprinted on delicate paper, so avoid direct sunlight, high humidity or areas with fluctuating temperatures. Professional framing with UV-filtering glass and acid-free materials will help protect the artwork without compromising its visual impact.” 

Love Rat

When it comes to framing Banksy prints, it’s important to avoid using window mounts, as these can often cause issues like uneven colouration. Many of the Banksy works we see have been affected by poor framing choices, unsuitable tapes or adhesives, being stored rolled up, or simply handled incorrectly. Even if the damage is minimal, most prints need some level of care.

It's always best to consult a specialist in this area. A well-chosen frame should be tailored to suit the artwork - enhancing its presentation while also providing proper protection. It's also wise to have the frame reviewed every five to ten years to ensure it's still safeguarding the piece effectively.

Framing

How should Banksy prints be framed?

If you're not intending to frame and hang your Banksy straight away, make sure it is protected while in storage. Prints should be stored flat, in the dark, and away from potentially acidic or unstable materials, ideally they should be wrapped in acid free glassine or tissue and housed within made to measure folders or boxes made from acid free materials. We would strongly recommend checking intended materials with a conservator such as Fine Art Restoration Company prior to storage.

Storage

How should a Banksy print be stored when it’s not on display?

While collectors might be alarmed by signs of damage, it is reassuring to know that, with the help and knowledge of expert conservators, condition issues can often be improved or stabilised, however, there are no quick fixes or guarantees, the degree of improvement or stabilisation is entirely dependent on the inherent qualities of the individual artwork.

Damage

Can damaged prints be fixed?

“Common issues like tears, stains or flattened creases can often be treated by a paper conservator. Conservators use gentle, reversible techniques designed to stabilise the artwork and reduce visible damage, while preserving the original character of the print.”

For more practical information on safely framing, restoring or caring for your Banksy print we can offer an introduction to our recommended conservators. 

 cares for and safeguards artworks from all over the UK, working with both respected private collectors and major public organisations.

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