Mark Hoppus and the Auction of “Raw Oil Banksy”
Mark Hoppus of Blink-182 is set to feature in the auction of “Raw Oil Banksy” during the modern evening sale at Sotheby’s in London, with an estimated value of £3-5 million.
Details About the Artwork
This hand-painted piece, part of the Hoppus collection alongside his wife Sky since 2011, will be displayed at Sotheby’s New York before heading to London for the auction on March 4.
“We adored this artwork from the first moment we encountered it. It’s unmistakably Banksy, yet unique. We purchased it simply because we loved it. This piece has been a significant part of our family life for over a decade. It was hung above our breakfast table in London, where our son did his homework, and it later adorned our living room in Los Angeles. It has witnessed laughter, tears, celebrations, and disagreements. Our son grew up with it,” shared Hoppus. “This artwork has meant so much to us and is an incredible part of our lives, and now I’m thrilled it will be seen by a wider audience. Go take it. Godspeed.”
A portion of the proceeds will support the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles, along with their oncology program at Cedars-Sinai and the California Fire Fund. The couple also intends to allocate part of the funds to assist emerging artists. “Returning to punk rock, a facet of the community I deeply cherish, involves uplifting your friends as you succeed,” Hoppus explains. “I want to use a part of the money from this artwork’s sale to purchase works from young, future artists. We were fortunate to have found ‘Raw Oil (Vetriano)’ in our lives, and this will enable us to foster more art and artists. I aspire to be AF *** Medici.”
The artwork, which reinterprets The Singing Butler, was first showcased at the 2005 Banksy exhibition. It reflects Banksy’s subversive style, featuring a sinking oil tanker and figures in Hazmat suits in a romantic beach scene originally depicted by Vetriano.
