(Fr)agile
1 work
Banksy I Fought The Law (AP Red) (Signed) For Sale
Banksy
I Fought The Law (AP Red) (Signed), 2004
Screen print
27 1/2 x 27 1/2 in 70 x 70 cm
Edition
Edition of 8
About this work
Banksy's "I Fought the Law" is another notable artwork from the prolific and enigmatic street artist, known for his incisive and often provocative social commentary. This piece, like many of Banksy's works, employs humor and irony to convey a deeper message about authority, conformity, and resistance."I Fought the Law" depicts a classic image of rebellion and defiance: a protester, presumably a rioter, in the act of throwing what looks like a Molotov cocktail. However, in typical Banksy fashion, the expected object of rebellion – in this case, the Molotov cocktail – is replaced with something innocuous and unexpected, a bunch of colorful flowers. This substitution transforms the act of aggression into a peaceful gesture, creating a striking contrast and a powerful visual pun.The title of the artwork, "I Fought the Law," further adds to its impact. It is a reference to the famous song by The Clash, an anthem of defiance and resistance against authority. By using this title, Banksy aligns the image with themes of rebellion and the struggle against oppressive systems, but the twist in the imagery suggests a different approach to resistance, one that involves peace and beauty rather than violence.This artwork is a prime example of Banksy's skill in using juxtaposition to challenge viewers' perceptions and to provoke thought. The transformation of a violent act into a peaceful one not only subverts expectations but also invites reflection on the nature of protest and resistance. It raises questions about the effectiveness of violence in achieving social or political change, and whether alternative methods, symbolized by the flowers, might be more powerful.In terms of style, "I Fought the Law" exhibits Banksy's characteristic stencil technique, which allows for sharp, clear imagery that is both impactful and accessible. The stencil approach, often used in street art due to its efficiency and bold effect, is particularly suited to the kind of swift, provocative work for which Banksy is known."I Fought the Law" has resonated with a wide audience, reflecting Banksy's ability to tap into contemporary social issues and to articulate a unique perspective on them. The piece is a striking example of his approach to art as a means of social commentary, using humor and irony to make powerful statements about the world.
Price on Application
Auction History
I Fought the Law (AP - Red) · Banksy · Christie's · 2021-03 · $171,897
I Fought The Law · Banksy · Christie's · 2021-09 · $68,513
I Fought The Law · Banksy · Sotheby's · 2022-04 · $67,138
I Fought the Law · Banksy · Bonhams · 2021-02 · $62,251
I Fought the Law · Banksy · Bonhams · 2020-12 · $61,838
More from this series
More series by Banksy
About the I Fought the Law Series
Banksy I Fought the Law Prints For Sale
Banksy's "I Fought the Law" series, produced between 2004 and 2005, stands as one of the artist's most politically charged and culturally resonant bodies of work. The series depicts a masked protester hurling a bouquet of flowers instead of a Molotov cocktail, creating a powerful juxtaposition between violence and peaceful resistance. This iconic image has become synonymous with Banksy's anti-authoritarian messaging and his ability to transform symbols of aggression into statements about civil disobedience and non-violent protest. The work references both The Clash's punk anthem and the broader tradition of street activism, positioning Banksy firmly within the lineage of politically engaged artists.
The series was executed using Banksy's signature screenprint technique, with editions released in multiple colorways including yellow, pink, orange, and red variants. Each colorway carries its own visual impact while maintaining the central composition's power. The Artist's Proof (AP) editions, particularly those bearing Banksy's signature, represent the most coveted examples from this series. These APs, typically reserved from the main edition for the artist's personal use, offer collectors access to works with enhanced provenance and rarity. The existence of both signed and unsigned versions from this period reflects Banksy's evolving relationship with the commercial art market during a pivotal moment in his career.
From a market perspective, "I Fought the Law" occupies a significant position within Banksy's print catalog. Works from 2004-2005 represent a crucial period when the artist's street credibility met growing institutional recognition, making prints from this era particularly desirable to serious collectors. The series exemplifies the themes that have driven Banksy's sustained market performance: accessible imagery with deeper political meaning, technical excellence in execution, and cultural relevance that transcends the art world. Signed Artist's Proofs command premium prices, while even unsigned examples maintain strong collector interest due to the image's iconic status.
For inquiries regarding available works from Banksy's "I Fought the Law" series, including Artist's Proof editions in various colorways, contact Guy Hepner gallery.
About Banksy
Banksy prints for sale at Guy Hepner include authenticated signed and unsigned editions: Girl with Balloon, Choose Your Weapon, Tesco Soup Cans, Fragile, Laugh Now, and Flower Thrower. Buy Banksy prints in New York through our gallery at 177 Tenth Avenue — all works sourced with full provenance and authentication documentation. We also buy Banksy art and offer free valuations for sellers.
Banksy is the world’s most celebrated anonymous street artist — a figure whose identity remains unknown but whose visual language is instantly recognisable across continents. Emerging from the Bristol graffiti scene in the early 1990s, Banksy developed a stencil-based technique that allowed rapid, precise execution on walls, bridges, and public surfaces from London and New York to Gaza and the West Bank. His work fuses dark humour, political provocation, and formal rigour in a way that has made him equally at home on the street and in the auction room. Today, Banksy art for sale represents one of the most dynamic and hotly contested segments of the contemporary secondary market.
Banksy Art For Sale
Banksy art for sale encompasses original spray-painted canvases, unique works on board, signed and unsigned print editions, and — on rare occasions — documented wall works sold with photographic authentication. The breadth of subjects he has addressed is remarkable: consumer capitalism (Tesco Soup Cans, Trolley Hunters), celebrity culture (Kate Moss, Andy Warhol), surveillance and control (Radar Rat, CCTV Watching), and hope and fragility (Girl with Balloon, Fragile).
The benchmark auction event in Banksy’s market history remains the October 2018 Sotheby’s London sale, when Girl with Balloon — having just sold for £1.04 million — was partially shredded by a device concealed in the frame, becoming Love is in the Bin. The reconstituted work subsequently sold in October 2021 for £18.5 million, underscoring the extraordinary commercial power of Banksy’s interventions and the appetite of the global collector base for his most iconic imagery.
Banksy Paintings For Sale
Banksy paintings for sale — unique spray-painted works on canvas or board — are the rarest and most valuable category of his output. These works, typically produced in small numbers for specific shows or commissions, carry full documentation from Pest Control and have appeared at auction with results ranging from six to eight figures. Choose Your Weapon, Monkey Parliament, and large-format stencil canvases from his early 2000s output represent the apex of private collector demand.
Provenance is paramount for Banksy paintings. Unbroken ownership history from first sale through to the present day, combined with a current Pest Control certificate, is the minimum standard for any serious acquisition. Works without this documentation carry substantial authentication risk regardless of visual appearance.
Banksy Prints: Signed vs Unsigned
Banksy print editions form the most accessible and widely traded category of his market. Published through his own distribution channels and in very limited numbers, these screenprints exist in signed and unsigned variants — a distinction that has a significant impact on value. Signed editions — with Banksy’s hand signature — command multiples of two to five times comparable unsigned editions in the same print run.
Key print series sought by collectors include: Girl with Balloon (multiple colourways), Choose Your Weapon, Kate Moss, Tesco Soup Cans, Fragile, Radar Rat, Flower Thrower, and Di-Faced Tenners. Edition sizes vary from as few as 150 to several hundred, and sell-through rates at auction confirm strong secondary demand across all major series.
Banksy Authentication: Pest Control
Pest Control is Banksy’s official authentication body and the only organisation authorised to certify works as genuine. When you buy Banksy prints or original art, a current Pest Control Certificate of Authenticity (COA) is the non-negotiable standard. The COA features a torn currency note — half retained by Pest Control, half with the work — as a security measure, and is registered against a specific edition and owner.
At Guy Hepner Gallery, every Banksy work offered for sale is accompanied by Pest Control documentation. We do not offer works without verified authentication, and our team is available to guide collectors through the acquisition process, including condition reporting, framing recommendations, and insurance valuation.
Ready to buy Banksy art? Contact Guy Hepner to explore our current inventory of authenticated Banksy prints and original works.