Building a timeless urban art collection requires time, patience, and a discerning eye. Start by evaluating your current collection and identifying any gaps. Essential pieces to consider include signed and unsigned Banksy prints, Harland Miller's prints, KAWS' character paintings and prints, and Invader's unique mosaic tile works and prints. These foundational pieces offer a blend of humor, nostalgia, and profound artistic statements that resonate with collectors.
Banksy’s Nola, also known as Umbrella Girl, first appeared in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans as a response to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. This piece was part of a series of 14 murals referencing the 2005 disaster. The title Nola is a nod to the city's affectionate nickname. The first signed print of Nola was released in 2008 in a limited edition of 289 signed works. It depicts a young girl standing in the pouring rain, holding an umbrella that ironically serves as the source of the downpour. Nola has become one of Banksy’s most popular prints, with editions featuring various colors of rain and all signed and numbered by the artist.
Girl With Balloon is another highly sought-after Banksy piece, showcasing his profound impact on contemporary art. This image depicts a young girl reaching for a red, heart-shaped balloon that has slipped from her grasp. The red balloon symbolizes dreams, aspirations, and childhood innocence. Depending on whether you see the girl as losing the balloon or about to catch it, the picture can be interpreted as a poignant representation of loss of innocence or a hopeful sign of new beginnings. Originally accompanied by the phrase "there is always hope," this work appeared in London’s Southbank and has grown to be one of Banksy’s most iconic pieces. Despite its removal by the city council, the piece has grown to become one of Banksy’s most iconic works, underscoring the enduring relevance and appeal of his art. Voted the UK's most favorite piece of art in 2017, Girl With Balloon solidified Banksy’s influence on public consciousness and the art world. In 2018, Girl With Balloon became the subject of a famous public art stunt when it self-destructed during an auction at Sotheby's, highlighting Banksy’s critique of the commodification of art.
Harland Miller's parodies of classic Penguin book covers, such as This Is Where It's Fuckin At, blend Pop Art motifs with the brushstrokes of Abstract Expressionism, creating works that are both humorous and nostalgic on a monumental scale. The inspiration for this series struck Miller when he discovered a box of old Penguin books in a second-hand bookshop in Paris, a moment he described as a 'eureka moment'. These instantly recognizable covers now serve as a vehicle for Miller’s satirical messages and witty puns. Miller’s work has since gained widespread acclaim, reflecting his international success. In 2002, he served as Writer in Residence at the Institute of Contemporary Arts in Boston, a significant milestone in his career. In 2008, Miller curated his first major group exhibition, 'You Dig The Tunnel, I’ll Hide The Soil,' for White Cube in London, featuring works by notable artists such as Tracey Emin, Damien Hirst, and Jake and Dinos Chapman. This exhibition further cemented his reputation in the contemporary art world.
Flexible, a color screen print by Jean-Michel Basquiat created in 1984, features a human figure with interlocked arms representing a West African griot, a storyteller responsible for preserving and transmitting tribal histories and genealogies. The figure exemplifies the profound influence of West African culture on Basquiat's work. Basquiat's only trip to Africa occurred in August 1986 for an exhibition organized by art dealer Bruno Bischofberger at the French Cultural Institute of Côte D’Ivoire. The figure in Flexible, with its interlocked limbs, exudes omniscience and authority. Unlike many of Basquiat's works, which are often surrounded by a chaotic array of images, scrawls, and vibrant colors, this figure emanates a sense of stillness and calm. Despite this, the internal body is still visible, with the lungs and spine drawn in white, seemingly protruding from the figure's body. The print is based on a painting on wood created the same year, using a section of a fence from Basquiat's studio in Venice, California. Similar slatted wood materials were used in other works, such as Gold Griot (1984) and Jim Crow (1986).
The subject of the works in Ups And Downs by KAWS is deeply intimate, capturing moments that resemble awkward screengrabs of cartoonish, figurative scenes, each requiring thoughtful interpretation. These compositions showcase KAWS’ exploration of the challenge of existence, with frenetic, anarchic, and surreal qualities. The dynamic motion of tongues wagging, teeth snapping, and fists whirling reveals a restless, inventive, and psychologically active mind, making these works particularly noteworthy in KAWS’ career. These striking compositions demonstrate KAWS’ preoccupation with the challenge of existence but also contrast with his more clear-cut imagery. The viewer is reminded of KAWS’ work in animation and the fact that beneath the cooler, cross-eyed surface of his work there is a restless mind that is full of invention and psychological activity. There is a clear restlessness and aggression in these works that make them stand out in the wider context of KAWS’ career.
The alien depicted in Invader's prints is a character from the popular arcade game, Space Invaders, created by Japanese game manufacturer Taito in 1978. This game had a profound impact on Invader and even inspired his pseudonym. In addition to creating prints of aliens, Invader launched the elaborate Space Invaders project, which involved traveling to cities worldwide to install mosaics of these aliens on city walls. He began this project in 1998 and has since visited over 30 countries, making it one of the most impressive street art endeavors in history. Due to his growing following, Invader has started documenting the Space Invaders project through an online map on his website called ‘World Invasion,’ which shows the locations of his works. With his increasing success, Invader's practice has expanded to include many unusual places. Notably, one Space Invader artwork is located under the sea at the bottom of Cancun Bay, and another can be found in the International Space Station, orbiting at an altitude of 248 miles.
The breadth of urban art is wide and is an exciting market to tap into. Whether you're drawn to Harland Miller's witty takes on Penguin Books or eager to explore the adventurous realm of urban art through the works of Banksy, Basquiat, KAWS, and Invader, there is truly something for everyone in this vibrant and dynamic genre. This special release of street-inspired works offers a diverse and compelling collection that reflects the innovative spirit and cultural significance of contemporary urban art.
