Storage, Display and Restoration: Caring for your Banksy Print

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, 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.

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

As well as guarding your investment, good conservation 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 Banksy shreds one of his own prints, doing so yourself does not!

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.'

You should never window-mount a Banksy print. Roo and Maartje of Foley Schalkx Conservation explain: ‘When asked to assess Banksy prints, we typically come across colour differentials related to window-mounting, inappropriate tapes and adhesives, and damage related to rolled storage, poor framing, and poor handling skills. Most Banksy prints need attention, even if it's only minor.'

In this area, always speak to an expert – and we recommend tailoring a frame to the artwork; a good frame will both complement and support the artwork and protect it from unnecessary damage. Additionally, frames should be checked every 5–10 years or so to make sure they still offer the right protection.

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 Foley Schalkx Conservation prior to storage.

While collectors might be alarmed by signs of damage, it is reassuring to know that, with the help and knowledge of expert conservators such as Roo and Maartje, 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.

Roo and Maartje advocate for preventive conservation first and foremost:

‘Remember, prevention is better than cure – poor framing, handling, display and storage will all negatively affect an artwork's condition and resale value so it's always best practice to get these things right from the start.'

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

Foley Schalkx Conservation are a private conservation studios, offering a range of tailored services to private collectors of modern and contemporary works of art on paper.