Banksy prints, notes, and burner phones: The anonymous artist’s former agent is saying goodbye to his archive
Banksy prints, handwritten notes, a pair of trainers – and even a collection of “burner phones” – are among scores of items set to be auctioned from “the most definitive archive” of his early work.
Steve Lazarides, the anonymous street artist’s former agent and photographer, is auctioning artwork and other mementos amassed over more than 10 years of collaboration from the late 1990s.
He has held on to his collection since he and Banksy parted ways, but told Sky News it is now time “to move on”. The sale is estimated to make $2m (about £1.54m).
Julien’s, in California, will host the auction of more than 170 lots, including proof prints of famous works such as Love Is In The Air, Girl With Balloon, and several Rude Coppers, as well as a pair of special edition “owned and worn” Puma trainers (UK size 9, if that reveals anything) and 15 “burner phones used… to covertly contact Banksy when necessary”, including Nokia, Sony and Motorola models.
These Puma trainers have ‘Turf War’ embroidered on the heels, and ‘Banksy’ inside. Pic: Julien’s/Steve Lazarides
The term burner phone is slang for a typically cheap, pay-as-you-go mobile that can not easily be traced to the user.
Lazarides said “there could well be stuff” still on the mobiles, but did not give any more away.
“The burner phone was bought every couple of weeks to be used as walkie talkies and every single message was simply ‘call me’,” he said. “It became like a James Bond espionage fun game, and using the communication choice of drug dealers was a riot!”
Banksy would not have been able to get away with everything he did in those early days without him, Lazarides said. And “there were others who helped, also”.
This Drill Rat stencil is expected to fetch the highest price, with an estimate of up to $200,000. Pic: Julien’s/Steve Lazarides
The auction, titled Under Duress, includes hand-cut stencils featuring famous Banksy rats and chimpanzees. The item estimated to fetch the highest price is the Drill Rat stencil, with an additional hand-cutting of Banksy’s name attached, which is expected to sell for up to $200,000 (£154,000).
Bidding has already started online, with a proof print of Girl With Balloon currently attracting the highest offer, of $60,000 (£46,250).
Lazarides, who previously worked as a gallerist in and around Soho, central London, said he had always been a collector “of those weird little bits and bobs that look quite fun”, and “half the time it was just shit that was left in my car, or when we moved studios and it never got taken out the van or the car”.
Julien’s co-founder Darren Julien has described it as an “astonishing collection” offering an “unprecedented look at the history and path of the man that would become the world’s most famous and visionary artist”. The auction, he added, is a “historic opportunity for the next caretaker to own the most comprehensive and definitive archive of Banksy’s legacy”.
A print of Love Is In The Air is also among the items up for auction. Pic: Julien’s/Steve Lazarides
While the work represents a huge part of Lazarides’ life, he said it felt cathartic to let go. He now wants to move on, go back to working as a photographer, and use the money to spend on his family.
“I’m the kind of person, if I’m letting go of one bit then it can all go. And it’s kind of, it’s done, that’s over, I can start moving on and doing something else and make some space in my cupboard… it’s been all pervasive for the last 25 years and it was time to move on.”
The item he has found most difficult to let go of is not a print, but a mission statement and logo for Pictures On Walls, the company he set up with Banksy “to let ordinary people love and afford art”. He says it was both his “and Banksy’s proudest moment”.
A print of Banksy’s Pulp Fiction is also included. Pic: Julien’s/Steve Lazarides
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For years, Banksy’s identity has been the subject of much speculation. Most recently, the artist made headlines for a series of animal-themed artworks that sprang up across different areas of London over a nine-day period.
Lazarides said he liked the police box filled with fish, the seventh work in the series, which appeared in the City of London, but not much else.
“When he gets it right, he’s the best f****** artist in the world. That’s why I gave so much of my time to him, he’s brilliant.
The design of swimming fish appeared on a police box in the City of London in August, one of nine animal-themed designs in total. Pic: PA
“That series of London paintings, I don’t really understand where the politics have gone. And if there was a hidden meaning then he failed because you shouldn’t have to find another meaning as a viewer. Certainly not with graffiti, everyone should be able to understand it. Certainly with his.
“I don’t know, maybe he’s crippled by the fact there’s so many things to talk about, it’s easier to talk about nothing.”
What does Lazarides think the future holds for Banksy?
“I predict one day he will reveal himself and hopefully enjoy his life. I told him many times to do so.”
And if he did? “No one would believe it anyway!”
The Under Duress auction, the Banksy archive Of Steve Lazarides, starts at 10am local time (5pm in the UK) on 31 October
Entertainment
‘I’m shocked at how fragile I am still’: Cumberbatch and Colman on protecting their sanity from perils of social media
Actor Benedict Cumberbatch says he’s shocked at how “fragile” he still is – despite years in the spotlight and success in the industry.
It might seem like the Doctor Strange star and The Crown actress Olivia Colman have it all when it comes to money and success – but they are also human like the rest of us.
The pair lead the cast of new satirical black comedy The Roses, which sees picture-perfect couple Ivy and Theo Rose – a rising star chef and ambitious architect – raise their two children in California, while chasing their own dreams.
‘I am shocked at how fragile I am’
But behind its dark humour and comic language, the film also looks at the realities of power imbalance, insecurity and wounded pride – in even the strongest of relationships.
And 49-year-old Cumberbatch – whose character faces a major setback in his career – tells Sky News that in real life the glare of social media only intensifies those type of situations.
“I am shocked at how fragile I am still.
“I don’t go anywhere near it [social media] because of that.
“It’s like walking into a place where people want to marry you or kill you. Those extremes.
“I think we will get to a stage, a corporate culture that’s now manifested around it where people are obliged to do that in order to sell their lives, and therefore their brand and what they do for a living.”
Co-star Colman – who’s long-shunned the online world – agrees.
Cumberbatch and Colman in The Roses. Pic: Jaap Buitendijk/ Searchlight Pictures
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“I’m afraid I am very thin-skinned.
“I don’t look at any of it. My husband will look at a review and if it’s nice he’ll show me – but if it’s anything mean he knows to just go ‘don’t look – don’t look.’
“You just have to learn to be thicker-skinned.
“But actually, I think we need people who are sensitive and kind.”
‘Don’t do it… delete it all’
Colman – now 51, and whose leading role in The Favourite bagged her an Academy Award in 2019 – says no amount of experience and success can shield her from criticism.
“My advice to a young’un – sort of dipping their toe into the world of social media for the first time is absolutely don’t do it.
“Delete it all. If you want a happy life, don’t have any of it. I’ve never had it.”
The movie – directed by Meet The Parents’ Jay Roach with The Favourite screenwriter Tony McNamara – also calls into question the notion of success – asking, is it really possible to have it all?
Or is sacrifice inevitable when it comes to spinning the plates of a high-flying career, marriage and parenthood?
Cumberbatch admits “you can’t do it all without there being a cost”.
“You just have to weigh up what those balances are,” he adds.
Colman says “there are I suppose little sacrifices along the way” – from both sides of a relationship.
The comedy drama offers a fresh take on Warren Adler’s novel The War Of The Roses – and the 1989 hit film adaptation- starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner.
Colman and Cumberbatch – both producers on the film – insist they weren’t daunted by that though.
“We wanted to find a project to do together, and we have utter respect for the iconic status of the film and book,” explains Cumberbatch.
“Hopefully this will have its own place in the culture – it’s very different, it’s not a remake – it’s a reimagined jumping-on point.”
“But beyond that, it’s very different,” adds Colman.
Former Doctor Who Ncuti Gatwa and Barbie’s Kate McKinnon also form the cast.
The Roses is out in UK cinemas now.
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