Blink-182 star auctions Banksy original

A notable painting by Banksy has sold for £4,260,000 at Sotheby's, London on March 4, 2025. The painting has been part of the personal collection of Mark Hoppus, bassist and co-founder of the American rock band Blink-182, since 2011.

Sotheby's estimated the painting's value to be between £3 million and £5 million and it has achieved towards the top end of this estimate. Hoppus, a cancer survivor since 2021, has suggested that a portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit several charitable organisations, including the California Fire Foundation, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, and Cedars Sinai Hematology Oncology Research as well as purchasing works from emerging artists.

Crude Oil (Vettriano) was initially showcased in Banksy's 2005 exhibition, 'Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin,' held in London. This provocative show featured Banksy's reinterpretations of classic artworks by artists such as Vincent van Gogh and Claude Monet, all presented in a space teeming with live rats to challenge traditional art norms.

Titled Crude Oil (Vettriano), this artwork is a satirical reinterpretation of Jack Vettriano's renowned 1992 piece, The Singing Butler. Banksy's version introduces elements such as a sinking oil tanker and figures in hazmat suits handling toxic waste barrels, infusing the scene with a poignant environmental commentary.