A bullet-proof vest designed by renowned street artist Banksy, featuring a Union Jack flag, is expected to fetch up to £300,000 at an upcoming auction. The auction house Sotheby’s announced that this vest will be the first of five pieces from a collection the artist showcased in a Croydon, London, shop window back in 2019.
Notably, a similar vest gained widespread attention when UK rapper Stormzy wore it during his headline performance at Glastonbury Festival five years ago. According to Emma Baker, head of the contemporary evening sale at Sotheby’s, “Banksy masterfully uses this object to encapsulate a complex societal issue.”
This vest, originally a police-issue garment repurposed by Banksy, carries an image of the Union Jack and references the surge in knife crime and gang violence in the UK. Baker highlighted that the vest, made iconic by Stormzy at Glastonbury, is a prime example of Banksy’s thought-provoking work. She added, “This piece holds even more relevance today than when it first appeared, marking a pivotal moment in culture.”
Before going under the hammer, the artwork will be exhibited at the prestigious Frieze Festival in London and displayed at Sotheby’s New Bond Street Galleries from October 3 to 9.
In a related Banksy moment, the sale of *Love Is In The Bin* back in 2021 saw a record-breaking auction. Originally auctioned in 2018 as *Girl With Balloon*, the artwork famously shredded itself just after being sold for £1.042 million. It was later sold for an astonishing £18.6 million, making history in the art world.
