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
Prince William’s Earthshot Awards: Presenter Billy Porter has been ‘crying all day’ over Trump win
The presenter of Prince William’s Earthshot Awards says he’s been “crying all day” following Donald Trump’s win in the US presidential election.
Billy Porter, the Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award-winning actor and singer spoke to Sky News ahead of presenting William’s environmental award ceremony in Cape Town.
He said he had been feeling “horrible” following the election result and could not explain the outcome.
The Prince of Wales wore a jacket bought from a London market and biodegradable trainers. Pic: PA
He said: “America has decided, everything has been laid out… good luck to you all, I’m here, I have a face on, we’re going to soldier on, that’s all, I have no idea.
“There’s no more hiding, no more excuses, everybody knew and they decided for this [Donald Trump], so we’ll see. I have no answers for this.”
An ardent supporter of Kamala Harris, he told his two million Instagram followers before Tuesday’s vote, that Americans had to decide if they wanted “democracy or not”.
President-elect Trump is known to be a climate change denier.
Prince William’s Earthshot Awards have been described as the Oscars of the environmental world.
They celebrate and reward innovators working to combat some of the world’s most pressing environmental issues.
William arrived on the green carpet wearing a black and white jacket that was bought from a market in London and sustainable trainers made by Purified Shoes, which contain no plastic and are biodegradable.
In his speech, in front of a live TV audience, he called on everyone to become part of the Earthshot “movement”.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The prince said the Earthshot Prize “isn’t just a celebration of winners. It’s a collaborative movement for change”.
He invited his audience “to join the movement for climate innovation that’s happening around the world. Because that’s why we’re here. To champion the dreamers, the thinkers, and the innovators from every walk of life, who share an ambition to build a better, more sustainable world”.
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William promised the organisation would “do everything we can to support them and help speed their solutions to scale. Because when they succeed, we all succeed. When they thrive, we all thrive. And when they win, we all win”.
William also spoke in nine different African languages, representing the north, south, east, and west of the continent.
Billy Porter was similarly enthused by the standards of the contestants’ efforts, saying he “loved” how the finalists “have figured out how to be of use. I’ve been blown away by the minds and ideas of finalists to make a difference and make a change.”
Entertainment
Victoria Beckham presented with a Harper’s Bazaar women of the year prize from daughter Harper
Victoria Beckham shared a sweet moment on stage with her daughter, Harper, as she collected a Harper’s Bazaar women of the year award.
The fashion designer and Spice Girls star was recognised with an entrepreneur prize for her “innovation and dedication to the British and global fashion industry”.
Her daughter Harper presented the award on stage, organisers said, and the pair were pictured together before the event.
The 13-year-old, who is the youngest of Victoria and David Beckham‘s four children, has previously attended fashion events with her mum, as well as the premiere of her football star dad’s Netflix documentary, released last year.
Singer Raye and actresses Nicola Coughlan, Sophie Turner and Ambika Mod were also among the stars honoured at the Harper’s Bazaar Women Of The Year ceremony, held at Claridge’s Hotel in London.
Dame Jilly Cooper was cheered on by her Rivals stars Aidan Turner (top left), Alex Hassell (right) and Bella Maclean. Pic: Dave Bennett/ Harper’s Bazaar
Author Dame Jilly Cooper was presented with her prize by Poldark star Aidan Turner, who stars in the current hit Disney+ adaptation of her book, Rivals. His co-stars Bella Maclean and Alex Hassell were also there to show support for the writer – who was honoured for “her extraordinary half-century contribution to literature”, organisers said.
Killing Eve and Silo star Dame Harriet Walter, 74, was given the icon award for her long-running career in theatre, film and TV. The gong was presented by Brian Cox, who played her former husband, the fearsome Logan Roy, in the hit series Succession.
Nicola Coughlan was presented with her television actress of the year award by her Bridgerton co-star Golda Rosheuvel. Pic: Dave Benett/ Harper’s Bazaar
On the red carpet, Dame Harriet said she hoped to “represent all the other older women who are still good at their job”. She added: “I feel very lucky and if I can inspire anybody to keep going and believe in themselves, that’s a good thing.”
Actors Jodie Comer, Golda Rosheuvel and Paapa Essiedu, and Love Island host Maya Jama were among the stars presenting awards at the event.
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Lydia Slater, the editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar UK, said: “We are hugely privileged to have presented the Women Of The Year Awards to this esteemed group of winners, all of whom have left us inspired by their trailblazing, impactful contribution and dedication to their respective fields.”
Artist Rana Begum, designer Francesca Amfitheatrof, and Olympian Katarina Johnson also received awards at the ceremony.
Glastonbury is changing the way fans can buy tickets for the world-famous festival.
While the booking process itself will remain the same, the way people join it is different.
Organisers warned hopefuls to log in “at least a few minutes” before the sale opens on 14 November, to avoid refreshing the page and not to attempt to game the system by using multiple devices.
Fans must be registered by 5pm GMT on Monday 11 November.
Tickets for the annual event at Worthy Farm in Somerset cost £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, and are sold exclusively through the See Tickets website, with no third-party sellers involved.
The sale follows chaos earlier this year when tickets for the Oasis reunion went on sale, seeing a multitude of disappointed fans as well as those who felt cheated after being charged hundreds of pounds more for their tickets than was originally advertised.
The festival website explains: “Rather than refreshing the holding page to attempt to access the booking page, this year, when the ticket sale begins (at 6pm or 9am respectively) everyone who is already on the glastonbury.seetickets.com page will randomly be assigned a place in a queue to access the booking process.
“Anyone who logs on once the sale has started will automatically be added to the back of the queue, so it’s important to make sure you are online ready at least a few minutes before the sale opens.
“Once you are in the queue, a progress bar will indicate how close you are to reaching the booking page.
“Please do not refresh this page or use multiple devices or tabs or you may lose your place in the queue.”
Pic: Glastonbury Festival website
Once fans reach the front of the queue and enter their registration details, they will be able to purchase a maximum of six tickets – but they will not have long to do so.
The site warns: “You will have 10 minutes to complete this page before your session expires, however tickets are not allocated at this point.”
It also cautions: “Do not attempt to minimise the tab or open new tabs. If you move away from the tab you are on your session may expire”.
The advice also says that if the amount of traffic on the website is particularly high, users may see a “reduced version of the See Tickets booking site, with a minimal holding page”.
It adds: “This does not mean the site has crashed”.
The crowd at Coldplay’s 2024 headline set at Glastonbury Festival. Pic: PA
The site discourages users from using multiple devices to increase their chances of getting tickets, warning it could actively harm getting through.
It says: “Refreshing the page, using multiple tabs or many devices can look like suspicious behaviour and can harm your chances of getting through by triggering anti-bot software; therefore you must stick to one tab/device per IP address and please do not refresh your page once you are in the queue”.
One exception to the refresh rule is if the message, “All available tickets have now been allocated” pops up, at which point refreshing the page will mean any orders that haven’t been processed will go back on sale, and so may become available to buy.
Once the message “SOLD OUT” appears, it’s game over, and no more tickets will be released back for sale.
Festival-goers leaving this year’s event. Pic: PA
There will be another chance, however, when any returned tickets go on resale in the spring, offering festival fans a second bite of the cherry.
While next year’s acts won’t be announced until after tickets go on sale, Oasis have already ruled themselves out of performing, telling fans: “Despite media speculation, Oasis will not be playing Glastonbury 2025 or any other festivals next year. The only way to see the band perform will be on their Oasis Live ’25 World Tour.”
2026 is likely to be a fallow year for Glastonbury (a year off), with the festival traditionally taking place four out of every five years, and the fifth year reserved for rehabilitation of the land.
Glastonbury Festival takes place from 25 to 29 June 2025.
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