A rare Banksy painting, Crude Oil (Vettriano), which reimagines Jack Vettriano’s iconic The Singing Butler, sold for nearly £4.3 million ($5.5 million) at a London auction on Tuesday. The sale occurred just a day after the announcement of Vettriano’s death at 73.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Vettriano’s The Singing Butler, a romantic scene of a couple dancing on a windswept beach with a butler and maid holding umbrellas, set a Scottish auction record in 2004, selling for £744,800. The painting went on to become the UK’s best-selling print reproduction, surpassing works by Monet and Van Gogh.
Banksy’s Crude Oil (Vettriano), often referred to as Toxic Beach, subverts the original’s narrative. It depicts the romantic beach scene with the addition of a sinking oil tanker and two men in hazmat suits wheeling a barrel of toxic waste onto the shore. The work addresses pressing environmental issues, such as pollution and the capitalist landscape, with Banksy’s signature blend of irony and humor. Sotheby’s described it as more relevant than ever due to the growing frequency of natural disasters.
The piece, first exhibited in Banksy’s 2005 show Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin, was sold by Mark Hoppus, the co-founder of Blink-182. Hoppus, who had kept the piece in his home, shared that his family had cherished it through significant moments, including both joyful and challenging times. He also expressed his intention to use the sale proceeds to support emerging artists.
The auction coincided with tributes to Vettriano, who, despite his commercial success, struggled for recognition from the art elite. Hailing from humble beginnings in Scotland, Vettriano started painting in his twenties and became known for works that captured romanticized scenes of working-class life.
Following the sale, Hoppus pledged to donate part of the proceeds to two Los Angeles medical charities and the California Fire Foundation, in support of communities impacted by the January wildfires.
Banksy, known for his provocative street art, continues to be a powerful figure in contemporary art. His works, often addressing social and political issues, have achieved immense auction success, making him one of the most sought-after artists in the world.
