A New Record for Banksy’s Heroic Nurse

On May 6, 2020, in the midst of the first wave of COVID-19, as doctors and medical staff redoubled their efforts to deal with a still relatively unknown threat, a package was dropped off at the University Hospital of Southampton. It contained a 36- x 36-inch oil painting of a young boy playing with superhero figures. But it was not Batman or Spiderman who monopolized the attention of the young boy, rather a nurse dressed in a cape, which he proudly flies in the air.

The work signed by Banksy, titled Game Changer, was accompanied by a small message saying: “Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white”.

The canvas was hung in the hallway of the hospital to support the staff on a daily basis. 

“All the staff have described this painting and the impact it’s had on the hospital as joyous, it has made a huge difference to the morale of the hospital and the people who are woking in here,” said Paula Head, chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust.

Related: The 10 Most Expensive Living Artists

Today, the original work is replaced by a copy, as it was auctioned on March 23 during an evening sale at Christie's. After a long bidding battle over the phone and the internet, the hammer finally fell at £16.7 million ($22.9 million), including fees. The estimate had been set at between £2.5-3.5 million ($3.4-4.8 million).

All proceeds will be donated to UK medical and charities. Christie's has also said it will donate a significant portion of the buyer's premium to these organizations.

The auction represents a new world record for a work by the mysterious street artist. The precedent was set in the fall of 2019, when Devolved Parliament went for over $12 million.

These two records prove that Banksy manages to strike a chord with the public by dealing with current themes, such as Brexit and the pandemic.

Find the latest auction news on Barnebys Magazine