Morons (sepia)
Morons (sepia)
Signed Print
Banksy
£29,000-£45,000
$60,000-$90,000 Value Indicator
$50,000-$80,000 Value Indicator
¥260,000-¥400,000 Value Indicator
€35,000-€50,000 Value Indicator
$280,000-$430,000 Value Indicator
¥5,550,000-¥8,610,000 Value Indicator
$35,000-$60,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 300
Year: 2007
Size: H 56cm x W 76cm
Signed: Yes
Format: Signed Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 2024 | Sotheby's Online | United Kingdom | |||
| September 2024 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| March 2024 | Bonhams Los Angeles | United States | |||
| March 2024 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| February 2024 | Phillips London | United Kingdom | |||
| September 2023 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| December 2022 | Tate Ward Auctions | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Banksy's 2007 screen-print Morons (sepia) critiques art elitism by replacing Van Gogh's Sunflowers, sold for £22.5m, with a sign reading "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU MORONS ACTUALLY BUY THIS SHIT." The print, signed and limited to 300, highlights the absurdity of art world wealth and includes a meta-comment on Banksy's own buyers.
This largely monochromatic screen print in Banksy’s signature style portrays an auction room full of people in suits bidding for a number of artworks, including one in a gold frame (the only colour in the image) that reads, ‘I can’t believe you morons actually buy this shit’. This artwork first appeared on Banksy’s website following a record-breaking auction result for one of his canvases. It was released as an unsigned edition in white and gold at the artist’s exhibition Barely Legal in LA in 2006 - Morons (LA Edition) . Morons is an example of Banksy’s unapologetic critiques on the extraordinarily high prices of his, and many other artists’ artworks pointing a mocking finger at their buyers.
Banksy’s relationship with the art market is notoriously controversial, which is precisely why he is so successful. The artist has expressed similarly critical opinions of the art world’s commercialism through public pranks such as the famous incident in 2008 at Sotheby’s auction of Girl With Balloon, which, after the hammer struck down at a record price, ceremoniously shredded itself in front of the audience.
