Is Banksy's work considered Pop Art?

Though it is perhaps not the first label one might attribute to Banksy’s oeuvre, many of the artist's prints feature a bold treatment of colour that lends itself to a certain characterisation as 'Pop'. Banksy makes no secret of his love for Pop legend Keith Haring, paying direct homage to him - and to Andy Warhol’s famous Marylin Monroe and Campbells Soup screenprints - several times in his own works. It seems that traditional Pop Art’s thematic interest in consumerism and mass production is also an enduring source of inspiration for Banksy; capitalism and consumerist obsession permeate his work as the subjects of often scathing critique.

Why is Soup Cans Quad important?

While in the '60s Warhol seemed to use his screen prints to celebrate mass production and the aggressive marketing strategies of a young and burgeoning consumerist society, Banksy’s stance is all the more critical. In Soup Cans Quad, he asks a difficult question: who is really benefiting from the false economy of the Tesco Value range?

How do I buy Soup Cans Quad?

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How can I sell my Soup Cans Quad?

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Soup Cans (Quad) by Banksy Background & Meaning

Soup
Cans (Quad)

In Soup Cans (Quad), Banksy reimagines Andy Warhol's masterpiece for the disillusioned contemporary viewer. Depicting a Tesco Value soup, he mocks the corporations that drive wealth inequality and criticises the outcome of the consumerism Warhol championed. Banksy repeats the image four times, but in only one flavour, emphasizing poverty’s lack of choice.

Meaning & Analysis

Like his Soup Can, Banksy’s 2006 print Soup Can Quad directly references Pop Artist Andy Warhol, as well as themes of poverty and mass production.

Though it could be interpreted as a playful homage to Warhol's Campbell’s Soup series, Banksy’s Soup Cans Quad can also be read as a cutting comment on the rampant rise of poverty in recent times. Satricial in remit, the work also engages with the ever increasing presence of large corporations in contemporary society. While Warhol’s cans depicted a range of flavours – from clam chowder to chicken noodle – Banksy chooses to show just four identical cans of cream of tomato soup. This choice, some have noticed, represents the day-to-day reality- and gastronomic monotony - suffered by those who struggle to survive in poverty. A key feature of Banksy's cans is their gold tops, which gesture towards the value these commodites might hold for a select number of shareholders, who reap financial reward in the form of profit.

Soup Can Quad was originally published in 2006 as a screen print. It came in two different varieties: 54 prints on cream paper and 12 on grey paper, all signed by the artist. The first manifestation of Banksy’s soup cans appeared in 2005 when he released 310 prints of a single can on a cream background, followed by 280 prints in 28 different colourways.

Unlike many other Banksy prints, the soup cans do not derive from an in situ work painted by Banksy in the street. However, they are closely related to the artist's mural, entitled Very Little Helps, which references the Tesco slogan ‘Every Little Helps’. One of Banksy’s most famous murals, it remains preserved on Essex Road in London, now covered by Perspex.

Though it is perhaps not the first label one might attribute to Banksy’s oeuvre, many of the artist's prints feature a bold treatment of colour that lends itself to a certain characterisation as 'Pop'. Banksy makes no secret of his love for Pop legend Keith Haring, paying direct homage to him - and to Andy Warhol’s famous Marylin Monroe and Campbells Soup screenprints - several times in his own works. It seems that traditional Pop Art’s thematic interest in consumerism and mass production is also an enduring source of inspiration for Banksy; capitalism and consumerist obsession permeate his work as the subjects of often scathing critique.
If you are looking to sell work by Banksy, click the link and we can help. We employ a number of techniques and practices in order to give a realistic and achievable valuation on any art listed on myartbroker.com. We analyse the demand for the work in question, take into consideration previous sales and auction valuations, we assess the current gallery valuation and monitor the current deals taking place via MyArtBroker every day. We regularly advise sellers on a price bracket for their artwork completely free of charge.