banksy spray can (2019) is a collectible object released as part of banksy’s gross domestic product project in croydon, south london. accompanied by its original paperwork, the metal spray can transforms one of the artist’s most recognisable creative tools into the artwork itself.
what i particularly like about this piece is how perfectly it captures banksy’s ability to blur the line between art, commerce and satire. gross domestic product wasn’t simply a collection of merchandise — it formed part of one of the most unusual projects of banksy’s career, turning the idea of a shop into an artwork in its own right.
in 2019, banksy opened gross domestic product as a shop that wasn’t really a shop. the public could view the products through the windows, while purchases were made online through an application process that asked buyers to explain why they deserved to own the work rather than simply having the deepest pockets. the project offered a characteristically banksy critique of consumerism, the commercialisation of art and the prices commanded by his work on the secondary market.
within that context, the spray can becomes much more than an object. it transforms the artist’s most recognisable tool into the artwork itself — a witty acknowledgement of the mythology surrounding banksy and the anonymous creation of his street pieces. rather than reproducing one of his famous images, it celebrates the process behind them while gently poking fun at the art world’s fascination with collecting anything associated with his name.
what makes the gross domestic product objects particularly interesting is their connection to a very specific moment in banksy’s career, when the exhibition, retail experience and artwork became part of the same project. for me, the spray can is one of the most self-aware objects from the release, because it takes something fundamental to banksy’s street art practice and turns it into a collectible object.
the gross domestic product works occupy an unusual place within banksy’s wider body of work, combining the artist’s street-art identity with the language of consumer products and collecting. accompanied by its original paperwork, the spray can is an especially distinctive example of the project and an appealing banksy object for collectors looking for something beyond the artist’s more familiar print editions.
this example is presented in excellent condition and housed in a conservation display unit by darbyshire, london.
collection: luck 03
artist: banksy
title: spray can
year: 2019
medium: metal cylindrical spray can
dimensions: 19 cm high
edition: edition size unknown
signature: signed
condition: excellent
paperwork: original paperwork
presentation: conservation display unit by darbyshire, london
delivery
complimentary personal delivery is available within brighton & hove. for uk and international orders, we arrange appropriate specialist art delivery and can provide fully insured, tracked delivery where required.
delivery is additional to the artwork price.
please contact us for a quotation before purchasing.
banksy spray can (2019) is a collectible object released as part of banksy’s gross domestic product project in croydon, south london. accompanied by its original paperwork, the metal spray can transforms one of the artist’s most recognisable creative tools into the artwork itself.
what i particularly like about this piece is how perfectly it captures banksy’s ability to blur the line between art, commerce and satire. gross domestic product wasn’t simply a collection of merchandise — it formed part of one of the most unusual projects of banksy’s career, turning the idea of a shop into an artwork in its own right.
in 2019, banksy opened gross domestic product as a shop that wasn’t really a shop. the public could view the products through the windows, while purchases were made online through an application process that asked buyers to explain why they deserved to own the work rather than simply having the deepest pockets. the project offered a characteristically banksy critique of consumerism, the commercialisation of art and the prices commanded by his work on the secondary market.
within that context, the spray can becomes much more than an object. it transforms the artist’s most recognisable tool into the artwork itself — a witty acknowledgement of the mythology surrounding banksy and the anonymous creation of his street pieces. rather than reproducing one of his famous images, it celebrates the process behind them while gently poking fun at the art world’s fascination with collecting anything associated with his name.
what makes the gross domestic product objects particularly interesting is their connection to a very specific moment in banksy’s career, when the exhibition, retail experience and artwork became part of the same project. for me, the spray can is one of the most self-aware objects from the release, because it takes something fundamental to banksy’s street art practice and turns it into a collectible object.
the gross domestic product works occupy an unusual place within banksy’s wider body of work, combining the artist’s street-art identity with the language of consumer products and collecting. accompanied by its original paperwork, the spray can is an especially distinctive example of the project and an appealing banksy object for collectors looking for something beyond the artist’s more familiar print editions.
this example is presented in excellent condition and housed in a conservation display unit by darbyshire, london.
collection: luck 03
artist: banksy
title: spray can
year: 2019
medium: metal cylindrical spray can
dimensions: 19 cm high
edition: edition size unknown
signature: signed
condition: excellent
paperwork: original paperwork
presentation: conservation display unit by darbyshire, london
delivery
complimentary personal delivery is available within brighton & hove. for uk and international orders, we arrange appropriate specialist art delivery and can provide fully insured, tracked delivery where required.
delivery is additional to the artwork price.
please contact us for a quotation before purchasing.
