Applause

Year: 2006
Medium: Screenprint in colors on Arches wove paper
Size: 80×120 cm (31 1/2 x 47 1/4 inches)
Editions: 150 signed, 500 unsigned
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

 

“Ladies and gentlemen, please put your hands together for a print named APPLAUSE. This is taken from a Banksy sketch that frankly is a good deal more interesting than the painting ended up being. Kind of sexy, kind of smart, kind of sarcastic in a way you can afford to be if you’ve never spent six months floating in a giant tin can getting herpes defending the good name of queen and country.”

Applause shows two air traffic controllers preparing a fighter jet for take-off. This print is mostly monochromatic, except for the yellow vests, and the red sign that reads “APPLAUSE” to emphasize and accentuate the message.  Perhaps, viewers should clap and celebrate as if they were attending or watching some game show.

This work illustrates the media’s attempt to often simplify and transform serious and violent themes in the news into entertainment to increase its audience. We live in a world in which images of aggression are communicated 24 hours a day through television and/or social media, dramatic events have become a form of amusement and entertainment – and this had led to the public becoming desensitized to violence. 
It is also perhaps alluding to a show filmed in front of a live studio audience in which there are people that hold up signs telling people when and how they should react. Banksy suggests we are being controlled by media and told exactly when and how and how we should react to something as heavy as warfare. Banksy used a well-known image of former US President George W. Bush deplaning a military Bomber for this print.
Applause is one of six prints belonging to the Barely Legal Print Set, which also includes Grannies, Morons, Trolleys, Sale Ends and Festival. Applause was originally released at Barely Legal as an edition of 100 unsigned prints, printed by Modern Multiples, that sold for $500 a piece.
In 2007, Banksy’s UK-based printer Pictures of Walls released the remaining prints from both editions: signed and unsigned.

Auction Market Overview

Applause (unsigned)

2025 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 10,402 (USD 13,939)
Top Price: GBP 11,250 (USD 15,270) @ Tate Ward London on 13 August 2025
2024 Sold 5 Times
Average Price: GBP 13,812 (USD 17,823)
Top Price: GBP 18,900 (USD 23,790) @ Christie’s online on 26 March 2024
2023 Sold Once
Top Price: JPY 4,370,000 (USD 31,655 / GBP 24,045)
@ SBI Art Auction in Tokyo on 15 July 2023
2022 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 39,436 (USD 47,371)
Top Price: CAD 97,250 (USD 71,850 / GBP 61,985)
@ Heffel Fine Art Toronto on 27 October 2022
2021 Sold 9 Times
Average Price: GBP 42,448 (USD 58,821)
Auction Record Price: USD 88,200 (GBP 63,455)
@ Sotheby’s New-York on 22 April 2021
2020  Sold 8 Times
Average Price: GBP 33,249 (USD 43,719)
Top Price: USD 59,960 (GBP 45,425) @ Heritage Auctions on 20 October 2020

 

Applause (signed)

2025 Sold Once
Selling Price: USD 27,500 (GBP 20,485) @ Heritage Auctions on 30 October 2025
2024 No Sale at Auction in 2024
2023 No Sale at Auction in 2023
2022 No Sale at Auction in 2022
2021 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 61,690 (USD 84,470)
Top Price: USD 100,905 (GBP 74,745)
@ SBI Art Auction on 30 October 2021
2020  Sold Twice
Average Price: GBP 60,125 (USD 78,199)
Auction Record Price: GBP 87,750 (USD 117,000) @ Bonhams London on 15 December 2020

 

 

Applause (unsigned)

2026 Auction Results

Sotheby’s London: 25 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 96,000 / USD 128,545
NEW AUCTION RECORD FOR APPLAUSE (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colours on wove paper
Numbered 450/500 in pencil
With the blindstamp of the publisher, Pictures on Walls

Heritage Auctions: 29 January 2026
No Estimates Received – No Reserve
USD 15,000

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Edition: 337/500
Numbered in pencil lower left
Published by Pictures On Walls, London

2025 Auction Results

Tate Ward: 13 August 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 10,000
GBP 11,250 / USD 15,270

BANKSY (British 1974-)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 500 in pencil

Tate Ward Auctions: 25 June 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 10,000
GBP 10,625 / USD 14,525

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Applause’ (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 500 in pencil

Karl & Faber: 6 June 2025
Estimated: EUR 10,000 – 15,000
EUR 10,160 / USD 11,580 / GBP 8,580

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Colored serigraph on wove by BFK Rives
One of 500 numbered copies

Forum Auctions: 5 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 7,000 – 9,000
GBP 8,500 (Hammer)
GBP 11,150 / USD 14,375

BANKSY (b.1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Inscribed ‘DN’ and numbered from the edition of 500 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

2024 Auction Results

Applause (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2024, at an average price of GBP 13,812 (USD 17,823). It sold at Christie’s online on 26 March 2024 for GBP 18,900 (USD 23,790), its highest price for 2024. It last sold at Forum Auctions on 29 October 2024 for GBP 12,060 (USD 15,654), its lowest price for 2024.

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
Hammer: GBP 9,000
GBP 12,060 / USD 15,654

BANKSY (b.1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 12,600 / USD 16,758

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives wove paper
Numbered 194/500 in pencil (there was also a signed edition of 150) with the publisher’s blindstamp

Phillips London: 19 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 12,700 / USD 16,497

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper
Sheet: 80.7 x 121.5 cm (31 3/4 x 47 7/8 inches)
Numbered 292/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams London: 26 June 2024
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 12,800 / USD 16,235

Banksy (British, born 1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives wove paper
Numbered 477/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 26 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 18,900 / USD 23,790

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives wove paper
Numbered 431/500 (there was also a signed edition of 150)

2023 Auction Results

SBI Art Auction: 15 July 2023
Estimated: JPY 2,500,000 – 3.500,000
JPY 4,370,000 / USD 31,656
BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint
Numbered and embossed on the lower left from the edition of 500

2022 Auction Results

Heffel Fine Art: 27 October 2022
Estimated: CAD 40,000 – 60,000
CAD 97,250 / USD 71,850
BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives wove paper
Numbered 467/500
Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 37,800 / USD 45,360

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 69/500

Phillips London: 15 June 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 25,200 / USD 30,996

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper
Numbered 293/500 in pencil, an unsigned impression (there was also a signed edition of 150)

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 32,760 / USD 41,278

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 419/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2021 Auction Results

Applause (unsigned) sold 9 times at auction in 2021, for a total turnover of GBP 382,029 (USD 529,392), at an average price of GBP 42,448 (USD 58,821). It sold for its highest price of 2021 and all-time high auction record at Sotheby’s in New-York on 22 April 2021 for USD 88,200 (GBP 63,455).

Sotheby’s online: 17 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 49,039

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper
Numbered 177/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s New-York: 22 April 2021
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 88,200 / GBP 63,455
AUCTION RECORD FOR APPLAUSE (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper
Numbered 386/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 44,100 / USD 61,299
BANKSY
Applause (unsigned), 2006
Screenprint in colors on BFK Rives paper
Numbered 444/500 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Applause (signed)

Heritage Auctions: 30 October 2025
No Estimates Provided
USD 27,500

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Applause (signed), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Edition:  86/150
Signed, dated, and numbered in pencil along lower edge

Bonhams London: 11 November 2021
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 52,750 / USD 71,215

BANKSY (BORN 1974)
Applause (signed), 2006
Screenprint in colors
Signed, dated and numbered 95/150 in pencil

Bonhams London: 15 December 2020
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 87,750 / USD 117,000
AUCTION RECORD FOR APPLAUSE (SIGNED)

BANKSY (born 1975)
Applause (signed), 2006
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 104/150 in pencil