“Stop and Search,” 2007, Bethlehem, West Bank (Justin Sutcliffe)
Here’s a preview of the Art Miami fair’s highly anticipated “Banksy: Out of Context” exhibition, which will be unveiled at a VIP preview tonight and displayed through Sunday.
Five murals by the notorious British graffiti artist, whose identity remains a mystery, will be showcased. They include some of Banksy’s most iconic work and pieces that generated extra controversy when art dealer Stephan Keszler salvaged them from their West Bank locations.
The exhibition’s five street-art pieces, which weigh a total of 6½ tons, are:
1. “Out of Bed Rat,” 2002, Los Angeles
2. “Kissing Coppers,” 2005, Brighton, England
3. “Wet Dog,” 2007, Bethlehem, West Bank
4. “Stop and Search,” 2007, Bethlehem, West Bank
5. “Haight Street Rat,” 2010, San Francisco
This is the first time all five pieces have been shown in the same venue. And while they aren’t for sale, other works by the guerilla artist will be available for purchase. But the biggest prize, of course, would be Banksy’s identity — major props to any billionaire collector who comes up with a number big enough for Banksy to reveal himself. (Let’s make this happen, Banksy! Do it for the United Kingdom — don’t let the Frenchies own the Art Basel week spotlight.)
The exhibit is a collaboration between London’s Bankrobber gallery and Keszler’s new photo-sharing platform, I PXL U.
“Many public works by important artists from the past and present are being destroyed or being painted over at an alarming rate due to circumstances the artists could never imagine,” Art Miami director Nick Korniloff says. “I spoke with Mr. Keszler about an idea I had for his I PXL U initiatives along with his private collection of Banksy works. We both agreed . . . that having a large-scale, not-for-sale exhibition would create a great debate about public street art.”
Art Miami, in its 23rd year, is launching its Context Art Miami sister fair, which Korniloff bills as an “international emerging and cutting-edge fair,” this week.
Combined, the events “will have a total of 190 exhibitors exhibiting roughly 2,000 artists from over 21 different countries in 250,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor exhibition space,” he says. “Since we have works ranging from the emerging to classical modern, price points will vary from a few thousand dollars up to a few million dollars for specific works.”
Art Miami is also working on another sister fair, Art Wynwood, which will open in February.
art-miami.com