(Fr)agile
1 work
Banksy Toxic Mary (Unsigned) For Sale
Banksy
Toxic Mary (Unsigned), 2003
Screen print
27 1/2 x 19 3/4 in 70 x 50 cm
Edition
Edition of 600
About this work
Banksy's "Toxic Mary" is an artwork that exemplifies the artist's skill in combining iconic religious imagery with contemporary social commentary. Created in the early 2000s, this piece is a provocative reinterpretation of the traditional depiction of the Virgin Mary, a central figure in Christian iconography.In "Toxic Mary," Banksy presents an image of the Virgin Mary in a familiar pose, reminiscent of classical religious artworks. However, he subverts this sacred image by depicting her holding a bottle of bleach in one hand, as if she is feeding it to the infant Jesus cradled in her other arm. This startling and irreverent alteration transforms the serene religious scene into a powerful commentary on modern issues.The inclusion of a toxic substance in place of nurturing food can be interpreted in several ways. It could be seen as a critique of environmental pollution and the harmful impact of toxic chemicals on children and future generations. The image starkly juxtaposes the purity and sanctity traditionally associated with the Virgin Mary and Jesus with the dangerous reality of contemporary environmental threats.Alternatively, "Toxic Mary" could also be read as a broader comment on the corruption and contamination of the sacred and pure by modern society. Banksy often uses his art to highlight the hypocrisy and moral failings of contemporary culture, and this piece aligns with that theme.The style of "Toxic Mary" is typical of Banksy's work, utilizing a stencil technique that allows for sharp, clear imagery. The stencil approach lends a graphic quality to the work, enhancing the impact of the visual message. Banksy's choice to keep the traditional elements of the religious iconography intact, while introducing the shocking element of the bleach bottle, ensures that the subversive nature of the work is immediately apparent to the viewer."Toxic Mary" is a striking example of Banksy's ability to blend traditional imagery with contemporary social critique. The piece is thought-provoking, challenging viewers to consider the impacts of modern life on what is held sacred, both in a religious and environmental sense. Like much of Banksy's art, it invites a reevaluation of societal norms and the consequences of contemporary practices.
Price on Application
Auction History
TOXIC MARY · Banksy · Sotheby's · 2020-09 · $81,635
Toxic Mary · Banksy · Phillips · 2021-06 · $68,251
Toxic Mary · Banksy · Bonhams · 2021-11 · $67,323
Toxic Mary · Banksy · Phillips · 2021-07 · $55,842
Toxic Mary · Banksy · Sotheby's · 2021-04 · $55,324
More from this series
More series by Banksy
About the Toxic Mary Series
Banksy Toxic Mary Prints For Sale
Banksy's Toxic Mary series stands as one of the artist's most provocative commentaries on religious iconography and environmental degradation. Created between 2003 and 2004, this powerful body of work reimagines the Virgin Mary nursing the infant Jesus while both figures wear gas masks—a stark meditation on pollution, faith, and the toxic legacy humanity bequeaths to future generations. The series exemplifies Banksy's signature ability to merge classical imagery with contemporary social critique, establishing itself as a cornerstone work from his most influential creative period.
The Toxic Mary editions were produced using Banksy's refined screenprinting technique, which allowed for precise execution of the work's haunting details. The series consists of the 2003 editions (signed and unsigned variants) and the 2004 Artist's Proof editions in distinctive blue and pink colorways. These AP editions are particularly significant to collectors, as artist's proofs traditionally comprise only 10-15% of a print run and often feature unique color variations that distinguish them from the main edition. The technical execution demonstrates Banksy's mastery of the medium, with carefully layered screens creating depth and tonal subtlety that elevate the work beyond simple stencil art.
From a market perspective, the Toxic Mary series represents a highly collectible segment of Banksy's early 2000s output, a period now recognized as foundational to his artistic legacy. The signed editions command premium valuations, with the 2003 signed version and the AP colorways particularly sought after by institutional and private collectors. The availability of unsigned editions provides entry points for emerging collectors, while the rare AP variants in blue and pink represent trophy pieces for advanced portfolios. This series continues to appreciate as Banksy's cultural relevance expands and collectors increasingly recognize the historical importance of his pre-2010 print works.
The thematic resonance of Toxic Mary has only intensified with growing environmental consciousness, ensuring its continued relevance in contemporary discourse. For acquisition inquiries and current availability on works from the Toxic Mary series, 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.