Authorities have charged a duo with burglary for allegedly stealing a Banksy artwork titled “Girl with Balloon” from Grove Gallery, reported news agency AP.
The suspects Larry Fraser and James Love appeared in Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. They were detained until their next hearing on October 9.
According to news agency AP, surveillance footage captured a masked individual breaking a glass door and removing the artwork from the wall.Police reported they had recovered the piece, valued at 270,000 pounds ($355,000). No other items were reported stolen.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj expressed shock but relief at recovering the artwork. He stated, “We are very lucky, but it is very unusual to have it recovered,” adding that the crime might have increased the work’s value.
“Girl with Balloon” is a well-known image of a child reaching for a heart-shaped balloon. It has been reproduced from its original stencilling on a wall in east London.
This piece garnered attention when another version partially shredded itself during a 2018 auction at Sotheby’s after selling for 1.1 million pounds ($1.4 million). That shredded version, renamed “Love is in the Bin,” sold for 18.6 million pounds ($25.4 million at the time) in 2021.
Banksy, known for his anonymity, started his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol and has become an internationally recognized artist. His art often carries satirical themes. This has made his works targets for theft and vandalism.
Recently, a series of animal-themed stencils by Banksy appeared across London. These included a howling wolf on a satellite dish, which a masked man removed shortly after it was authenticated. Authorities also removed another image of a gorilla at the London Zoo and piranhas in a police sentry box for safekeeping.
The suspects Larry Fraser and James Love appeared in Wimbledon Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. They were detained until their next hearing on October 9.
According to news agency AP, surveillance footage captured a masked individual breaking a glass door and removing the artwork from the wall.Police reported they had recovered the piece, valued at 270,000 pounds ($355,000). No other items were reported stolen.
Gallery manager Lindor Mehmetaj expressed shock but relief at recovering the artwork. He stated, “We are very lucky, but it is very unusual to have it recovered,” adding that the crime might have increased the work’s value.
“Girl with Balloon” is a well-known image of a child reaching for a heart-shaped balloon. It has been reproduced from its original stencilling on a wall in east London.
This piece garnered attention when another version partially shredded itself during a 2018 auction at Sotheby’s after selling for 1.1 million pounds ($1.4 million). That shredded version, renamed “Love is in the Bin,” sold for 18.6 million pounds ($25.4 million at the time) in 2021.
Banksy, known for his anonymity, started his career spray-painting buildings in Bristol and has become an internationally recognized artist. His art often carries satirical themes. This has made his works targets for theft and vandalism.
Recently, a series of animal-themed stencils by Banksy appeared across London. These included a howling wolf on a satellite dish, which a masked man removed shortly after it was authenticated. Authorities also removed another image of a gorilla at the London Zoo and piranhas in a police sentry box for safekeeping.
