A rare Banksy artwork, hand-painted by the elusive street artist and owned by U.S. musician Mark Hoppus, heads to auction on Tuesday with a price estimate of up to $6.35 million. The piece, titled "Crude Oil (Vettriano)", is Banksy's re-imagining of the 1992 painting "The Singing Butler" by Scottish artist Jack Vettriano, whose death was announced on Monday.
The artwork depicts Vettriano's butler serenading a dancing couple on a beach, enhanced by Banksy's iconic style featuring a sinking oil liner and two figures in hazmat suits moving a barrel of toxic waste in the background. Hoppus, co-founder of the pop-punk band blink-182, purchased the painting with his wife, Skye, back in 2011.
Offered at Sotheby’s London during the "Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction", the artwork is estimated to fetch between £3 million and £5 million (approximately $3.81 million to $6.35 million). Mackie Hayden-Cook, a contemporary art specialist at Sotheby’s, noted, "It’s rare for a work of this quality to come to market, and this one really has all the best ingredients. A fabulous owner, it’s hand-painted, impeccable exhibition history, and its subject is more urgent now than ever before." This painting was first exhibited at Banksy's landmark exhibition in Notting Hill back in 2005, which really propelled him onto the public stage.
Prior to news of Vettriano's passing, Skye Hoppus remarked on the parallels between the two artists. "Like Banksy, you have a really popular artist who is loved by the masses and appreciated by many. But for whatever reason, he was snubbed by the art world," she stated, highlighting the industry's selective nature.
Mark Hoppus shared his ambitions beyond the auction, stating, "Coming up in punk rock, it was always the ethos... if your band got any success, you brought your friends up with you. So with this art sale, I hope to take some of the money and put it back... I want to be a punk rock Medici." Through this sale, Hoppus aims to channel part of the proceeds to medical charities and the California Fire Foundation, especially following the devastating Los Angeles wildfires.
The anticipated auction of "Crude Oil (Vettriano)" not only highlights Banksy's prominence within the contemporary art scene but also showcases Hoppus's commitment to fostering new talent and supporting the art community. With its blend of urgent themes and punk rock roots, the auction is expected to resonate with diverse audiences, from art enthusiasts to fans of the musician.
Given Banksy's stature and the unique narrative surrounding this artwork, many will be watching closely as the auction date approaches. The fusion of Hoppus's punk ethos with his philanthropic intentions strikes at the heart of modern art's intersection with celebrity culture. It invites questions about how popular figures can influence the art world and support less established artists, continuing to raise the profile of meaningful works.
With estimates as high as $6.35 million, this auction could mark another significant moment for both Banksy's legacy and Hoppus's own artistic endeavors. The combination of celebrity ownership and impactful subject matter could very well set the stage for new trajectories within the art market, encouraging other musicians and public figures to engage more directly with the art they admire and support.