Video: Banksy sold original works for $60 in Central Park

Some art collectors and tourists got the deal of a lifetime this weekend as graffiti artist Banksy anonymously sold some of his wares in Central Park for $60 each, when they were worth tens of thousands of dollars or more.

“Yesterday I set up a stall in the park selling 100% authentic original signed Banksy canvases. For $60 each,” the elusive artist said in a posting on his website Sunday.

Banksy is selling work at auction later this year, some of which is expected to fetch upward of $150,000.

The stall, which is shown in a video on the website, was manned by a gray-haired man wearing a cap who was not Banksy. It featured works by the artist, including paintings of animals and a ballerina and an elephant with a rocket strapped to its body.
Two signs on the stall read “Spray Art” and “$60.”

The video showed that the first sale was to a woman who bought two small works for her children, but only after bargaining for a discount. Buyers had no idea they were buying Banksy originals.

“Total taking for the day ... $420,” the website read, adding that the sale was a one-off event.