Did Chicagoan get Banksy bargains

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Anyone know that man in the video He s reportedly from Chicago and bought four works by famed artist Banksy for only $60 apiece.

Banksy the shadowy British graffiti artist who is in the midst of a monthlong residency on the streets of New York posted the video on his official website Sunday saying it showed a stall in Central Park that sold his work at bargain prices for one day only apparently without telling people they were Banksy originals.

Yesterday I set up a stall in the park selling 100 percent authentic original signed Banksy canvases. For $60 each read a web posting by the artist whose works ordinarily command far more than that. In fact another piece by Banksy is expected to fetch upwards of $150 000 at an auction later this year.

Related Unknown Chicago bargain buyer Photos Mysterious graffiti artist Banksy Banksy

The video shows that the first sale last weekend was to a woman who bought two small works for her children but only after bargaining for a half price discount. Then a woman from New Zealand purchased two paintings.

Then the video shows a man buying four. A man from Chicago is decorating his new house the video says and it quotes him as explaining that I just need something for the walls.

Total taking for the day $420 the website says.

None of the buyers were identified and the website s claims could not be independently confirmed. Banksy is well known for his promotional skills and secrecy.

Banksy gained fame in the 1990s in London and Bristol in western England with his works featuring provocative ironic social commentary on buildings. He has become popular on the international auction circuit alongside Andy Warhol.

The spray paint and stencil artist also directed and appeared in the 2010 Oscar nominated documentary Exit Through the Gift Shop but kept his face and voice obscured.

A work called Flower Girl which was found on the wall of a Los Angeles gas station in 2008 is expected to fetch between $150 000 and $300 000 when it is auctioned in Beverly Hills in December.

Los Angeles Times and Reuters

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