A hand-painted Banksy painting from the collection of Blink 182’s Mark Hoppus is heading to Sotheby’s London. Estimated to fetch £3 million to £5 million ($3.8 to $6.3 million USD), “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” will headline the house’s modern and contemporary evening auction on March 4, alongside works by Pablo Picasso, Yoshitomo Nara, Anthony Gormley and Roy Lichtenstein.
The piece debuted in Banksy’s landmark show Crude Oils: A gallery of Remixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin in 2005. Through his signature style of irony and humor, the artist critiques contemporary issues, like environmental destruction and capitalism, reimagining Scottish painter Jack Vettriano’s iconic “The Singing Butler” with dystopian overtones. Just beyond the dancing couple, the painting trades the original’s butler in tow for two hazmat suit-clad men wheeling a vat of toxic waste, and in place of Vettriano’s pristine sea are murky, brown waters, likely caused by the sinking oil liner in the far background.
“We loved this painting since the moment we saw it. Unmistakably Banksy, but different. We bought it because we loved it. It’s borne witness to our family over these past dozen years,” Hoppus shared in a recent statement. “This painting has meant so much to us and been such an amazing part of our lives, and now I’m excited for it to be out there in the world.”
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Child Life Program at the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and Cedars Sinai Hematology Oncology Research, in addition to the California Fire Fund. “Crude Oil (Vettriano)” is now on public view at Sotheby’s New York through February 20 before returning to London from February 26 through March 4 for a preview exhibition ahead of the auction.
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