Banksy's defaced ‘Broken Heart' wall painting up for sale
When the enigmatic street artist Banksy spray-painted a heart-shaped balloon covered with a Band-Aid on the wall of a Brooklyn warehouse, the nondescript brick building was instantly transformed into an art destination and the canvas of an unlikely graffiti battle.
Almost as soon as Banksy revealed the piece back in 2013, an anonymous tagger brazenly walked up and spray painted the words 'Omar NYC' in red beside the balloon, to the dismay of onlookers.
Days later, someone stenciled 'is a little girl' in white and pink beside Omar's tag, followed by a seemingly sarcastic phrase in black: 'I remember MY first tag.' Some think it was Banksy himself who secretly returned to the scene to add the rejoinder.
The apparent graffiti battle didn't end there. Another tagger also attempted to leave his mark but was stymied by security guards. Today the phrase 'SHAN' is still visible in light purple paint.
Maria Georgiadis, whose family owned the now-demolished warehouse and ultimately removed the section of wall to preserve the artwork, says the graffiti pastiche is quintessentially New York.
'It looks like a war going on,' she said recently. 'They're literally going at it on the wall.'
The preserved wall, dubbed 'Battle to Survive a Broken Heart,' will be going up for sale May 21 at Guernsey's, the New York auction house.
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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Mystery artist Banksy leaves a lighthouse and a clue in Marseille, but what's he really saying?
Mystery artist turns Marseille wall into mesmerising masterpiece A plain beige wall tucked away on a quiet street in Marseille has been transformed into a viral sensation, thanks to the elusive British street artist Banksy. In a rare social media post on Friday, the anonymous artist claimed credit for a striking new mural near the city's old port, depicting a simple white lighthouse and the cryptic words, "I want to be what you saw in me. " The location — 1 Rue Félix Frégier in Marseille's 7th arrondissement, is already attracting flocks of curious tourists and devoted art fans. Many arrived within hours of Banksy's Instagram post, guided by GPS coordinates included in the caption. But the mural's magic doesn't stop at its poetic phrase. A street post standing in front of the wall creates an optical illusion, casting a shadow that aligns perfectly with the beam of the painted lighthouse, making it appear as if the lighthouse is glowing in real time. 'What you saw in me' While Banksy hasn't explained the meaning behind the emotionally charged phrase, fans online are speculating it's a lyric from "Softy," a 2001 ballad by American country group Lonestar. Others see it as a quiet reflection on perception, self-worth, or lost love, a departure from Banksy's usual political punch. Unlike his often subversive or politically loaded murals, this piece seems rooted in something more personal and poetic. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo It is not believed to be a political message, though some are calling it one of his most moving works in recent years. From street to spotlight The surprise appearance of the mural comes just two weeks before a major Banksy retrospective opens in nearby Toulon on June 14. The Museum of Art will showcase 80 of his works, including rare pieces and fan favourites. Another Banksy exhibition opened on Saturday in Montpellier. Previous Banksy murals have been either cut from walls, vandalised, or sold off by property owners hoping to cash in on the artist's global fame. Despite his secrecy and refusal to be photographed or interviewed, Banksy has become a multi-million-dollar phenomenon since breaking out in the late 1990s. His blend of stencilled simplicity, emotional subtext, and timely commentary continues to resonate across generations. Marseille's newest landmark? Whether it's a love letter or a lighthouse metaphor for hope, Banksy's Marseille mural is already becoming a landmark of its own. By midday Friday, the hashtag #BanksyMarseille was trending across France and beyond, with some fans making pilgrimage-style visits just to snap a photo before it's too late. As one local said while standing in front of the mural, "It's beautiful — but it feels like it could vanish at any moment. That's Banksy."
The Hindu
6 days ago
- The Hindu
In Marseille, a shadow becomes art in Banksy's latest street mural
The lighthouse appeared overnight. Painted on a wall tucked away in a quiet Marseille street, its beam aligned perfectly with the real-life shadow of a metal post on the pavement. At its centre, stenciled in crisp white, are the words: 'I want to be what you saw in me.' Banksy had struck again. On Friday (May 30, 2025), the elusive British street artist confirmed the work by posting two images on his official Instagram account — without caption or coordinates. Fans quickly identified the location as 1 Rue Félix Frégier, in the Catalans district of Marseille's 7th arrondissement, near the sea. Since then, crowds have gathered at the site. Tourists snap photos. Children point. Locals who usually walk past the building stop to take a closer look. There is no official explanation for the phrase. But its emotional pull is unmistakable — a quiet plea for recognition, love or redemption. Some speculate it references a country ballad by Lonestar. Others call it a love letter. Or a lament. Or both. The image is deceptively simple: a lone lighthouse, dark and weathered, casting a stark white beam. But what gives it power is the way it plays with light — the real and the painted, the seen and the imagined. The post in front of the wall becomes part of the piece. Reality becomes the frame. Marseille's mayor, Benoît Payan, was quick to react online. 'Marseille x Banksy,' he wrote, adding a flame emoji. By midday, the hashtag #BanksyMarseille was trending across France, and beyond. Though often political, Banksy's art is just as often personal, exploring themes of loss, longing and identity. In recent years, his works have appeared on war-ravaged buildings in Ukraine, in support of migrants crossing the Mediterranean and on walls condemning capitalism, Brexit, and police brutality. The artist, who has never confirmed his full identity, began his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the world's best-known artists. His mischievous and often satirical images include two male police officers kissing, armed riot police with yellow smiley faces and a chimpanzee with a sign bearing the words, 'Laugh now, but one day I'll be in charge.' His work has sold for millions of dollars at auction, and past murals on outdoor sites have often been stolen or removed by building owners soon after going up. In December 2023, after Banksy stenciled military drones on a stop sign in south London, a man was photographed taking down the sign with bolt cutters. Police later arrested two men on suspicion of theft and criminal damage. In March 2024, an environmentally themed work on a wall beside a tree in north London was splashed with paint, covered with plastic sheeting and fenced off within days of being created. Despite the fame — or infamy — at least in Marseille, not everyone walking past noticed it. Some didn't even know who Banksy was, according to the local press. On Instagram, observers say this Marseille piece feels quieter. More interior. And yet, it is no less global. The work arrives just ahead of a major Banksy retrospective opening June 14, 2025 at the Museum of Art in nearby Toulon featuring 80 works, including rare originals. Another exhibit opens on Saturday (May 31, 2025) in Montpellier. But the Marseille mural wasn't meant for a museum. It lives in the street, exposed to weather, footsteps and time. As of Friday evening (May 30, 2025), no barriers had been erected. No glass shield installed. Just a shadow, a beam and a message that's already circling the world.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- The Hindu
Banksy's defaced ‘Broken Heart' wall painting up for sale
When the enigmatic street artist Banksy spray-painted a heart-shaped balloon covered with a Band-Aid on the wall of a Brooklyn warehouse, the nondescript brick building was instantly transformed into an art destination and the canvas of an unlikely graffiti battle. Almost as soon as Banksy revealed the piece back in 2013, an anonymous tagger brazenly walked up and spray painted the words 'Omar NYC' in red beside the balloon, to the dismay of onlookers. Days later, someone stenciled 'is a little girl' in white and pink beside Omar's tag, followed by a seemingly sarcastic phrase in black: 'I remember MY first tag.' Some think it was Banksy himself who secretly returned to the scene to add the rejoinder. The apparent graffiti battle didn't end there. Another tagger also attempted to leave his mark but was stymied by security guards. Today the phrase 'SHAN' is still visible in light purple paint. Maria Georgiadis, whose family owned the now-demolished warehouse and ultimately removed the section of wall to preserve the artwork, says the graffiti pastiche is quintessentially New York. 'It looks like a war going on,' she said recently. 'They're literally going at it on the wall.' The preserved wall, dubbed 'Battle to Survive a Broken Heart,' will be going up for sale May 21 at Guernsey's, the New York auction house.
