Banksy is in the Bin

In 2018, Banksy shredded “Love Is In The Bin,” initially a painting titled “Girl with Balloon,” during a Sotheby’s auction as a critique of the art market’s focus on monetary value. The shredding mechanism was a pre-existing feature, activated remotely after the painting was sold. Banksy’s intention was to illustrate the futility of art being treated as a commodity, as the artwork’s value supposedly decreased upon its destruction. However, the act of shredding ironically made the piece more valuable and sought after.

This collage, crafted from a beautiful book, Banksy, is sliding through a “shredder” as the rest of Banksy’s book tumbles to the ground.

2025