Three Banksy artworks to sell for over £1m after being 'rescued' - Birmingham Live

Three Banksy artworks to sell for over £1m after being 'rescued'John Brandler has now decided to part with three originals, which will go under the hammer at auctionCommentsNewsJordan

Coussins and SWNSed (Ed Chatterton)08:49, 04 Jun 2025 An art dealer who's dedicated years to 'rescuing' original artworks by the acclaimed street artist Banksy is poised to make over £1

million by selling three of his pieces.

The set, which includes two artworks that were nearly destroyed, is up for sale courtesy of Banksy aficionado John Brandler.

‌ Brandler, 70, who began amassing works by the secretive artist around 2003 when a Banksy could allegedly be snagged for as little as £40, and claims ownership of a staggering 12 Banksy

pieces valued at an awe-inspiring £25 million.

‌ Read more: Massive Birmingham tram line announcement

Now opting to let go of three originals, these sought-after items will face the auctioneer's gavel at Hansons Auctioneers located in Etwall, Derbyshire.

Highlighting the lineup is the early work 'DJ on a Cloud' from 1999, rescued from being discarded during a Bath shop clearance, one of Banksy's inaugural wall murals anticipated to command

between £350,000 to £450,000 at the June 13 auction.

Article continues below 'Two Rats with Saw' from 2003, having escaped disposal prior to its recovery and conservation, is projected to secure bids ranging from £145,000 to £165,000.

Both have been displayed globally and will be making their public sale debut in what's touted as a "landmark" auction.

‌ Completing the trio is another 2003 creation, 'Family Target', depicting a family caught in the sight of a sniper and is likewise expected to reel in £350,000 to £450,000.

Mr Brandler, who has reached the age of 70, revealed he is selling three Banksy artworks from his collection.

He said: "I'm selling them because I'm 70 and I can't keep collecting them. I've got ten or 12 important ones, of them these are three of them.

‌ "I'm a one-man band too, I'm just a small gallery in Brentwood.

"These are three important pieces and they've all been displayed in top museums. "Everybody wants a Banksy. Everyone wants a Picasso.

‌ But a major Picasso is £100 million. Banksy is a bargain comparatively.

I can't keep everything forever.

"I would personally like them to go to three individual owners, not just one, so they're shared out.

‌ "Not one museum in the UK has a Banksy, no pieces of his street art at least, so this is a good chance to own one.

"I found one in Torquay that had been boarded up for years and I bought one in Nottingham that was about to water blasted off the wall.

"I am very fortunate, my hobby is my business.

‌ "I use a lot of the artwork to supply various charities. But it gets to the point where a collection can become a milestone."

Mr Brandler mentioned that he started collecting Banksy's work in 2003 and has since built an impressive collection which he loans out to galleries worldwide.

He explained: "I used to deal in good art, now I deal in street art. I like Banksy's humour, I only display things I like. "You couldn't pay me to hang up a Pollock. In my view, art is about

what you like, not what you should have.

‌ "I've got three walls on loan to Rome at the moment. "Whether you like him or not, he is the Picasso of the 21st century. Everyone globally knows who he is.

We're talking about doing an exhibition in China, that's how well-known he is.

"He has done for British art what the Beatles did for British music. Banksy is the yardstick for art in the 21st century. "I think he is phenomenal.

‌ "Banksy is great, his humour you can't beat and his marketing you can't beat. It's witty and it's fun. "Banksy can walk into any bar, get a cab. He's world famous but completely anonymous.

The collector, who also famously owns 'Seasons Greetings', which is the only known Banksy piece that led to the creation of a full-blown play titled 'Port Talbot Gotta Banksy', went on to

say: "Banksy is the only artist I know of whose single painting inspired a stage production. ""It shows the cultural weight his work carries - and these three pieces are no exception.

‌ "They very nearly disappeared forever. Instead, they're now part of modern art history."

Banksy, who was born in 1974, remains an enigmatic British artist and political activist renowned for his stencil-based street art.

His works, often imbued with satire and social commentary, have adorned buildings, bridges and public spaces across the globe - igniting discussions and transforming the art scene.

Article continues below These pieces are set to go under the hammer as part of Hansons 20th Century, Modern Art & Design Auction on June 13, with bidding open to participants worldwide both

online and in person.