1. Removal and sale
    Eventual sale of mural at auction 

2. Interview with Banksy

3. References

In February 2013 the mural was removed from its location and put up for sale at Fine art Auctions in Miami, US. After an appeal from the residents of Wood Green the mural was withdrawn from sale in the US and returned to the UK. It was sold at an auction in Covent Garden, London for (USD) $1.2 million.

Removal and sale

There is controversy over the disappearance of the mural, as a portion of the wall was physically removed from the building the artwork was sprayed upon. The owners of the building have not commented on whether it was legally or illegally sold and removed.^[3]

When the mural disappeared in February 2013 it was listed for sale on an on-line site and later appeared for sale at the Fine Art Auctions Miami for half a million dollars ($500,000). The auction house insisted the artwork was acquired through a legitimate transaction with a "well known" collector."^[4] The listing of the art at auction outraged some Wood Green residents, who believed the work was a gift to them,^[5] and that listing the artwork for sale at auction contradicted the wishes of the artist whose message called for an end to exploitation in the name of capitalism.

Despite claims that the acquisition of the artwork was legitimate, the FAAM director Frederic Thut withdrew the artwork, even after three bids had already been placed. Thut was also advised{{By whom|date=April 2016}} not to discuss the situation.^[6]

A stencil of what is believed to be Banksy's signature rat holding a sign saying "Why?" appeared next to the area, supposedly a retaliation by Banksy to the removal of his artwork. The rat artwork has since been removed.^[7] A representative of Banksy claimed that the rat is a fake.^[8]

Eventual sale of mural at auction

After protest from the residents of Wood Green the mural was returned to the UK. It was sold for (USD) $1.1 million by Bankrobber London at an auction held in the basement of the London Film Museum in Covent Garden by the Sincura Group.

Interview with Banksy

When prompted to comment on the sale of his artworks through auction houses, Banksy replied by giving a quote from Henri Matisse: "I was very embarrassed when my canvases began to fetch high prices, I saw myself condemned to a future of painting nothing but masterpieces."^[6][9] Furthermore, in previous attempts to sell his artwork, he has stated his position, "For the sake of keeping all street art where it belongs I'd encourage people not to buy anything by anybody unless it was created for sale in the first place."^[10]

References

• The Arts and Dementia
• The Arts and Humanities Focus Program
• The arts and humanities focus program
• The arts and letters club of toronto
• The arts and politics
• The Arts Center
• The Arts Club Theatre
• The Arts Club Theatre Company
• The Arts Educational Schools
• The Arts Educational School, Tring Park
• The arts institute at bournemouth
• The Arts Institute at Bournemouth
• The Arts Map
• The Arts of Mankind
• The Art Students League of New York
• The Art Students League of NY
• The Artus Court
• The Art-Work of the Future
• The Artwork of the Future
• Thearubigins
• The Arumer Zwarte Hoop
• The Arusha Accord
• The Arusha Declaration
• The Arvada Center
• The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities