Grin Reaper

Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Year: 2005
Sheet: 70×44 cm (27 1/2 x 17 3/8 inches)
Edition: 300 signed
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

‘Guaranteed to tell the time at least twice a day. That’s twice.’


Grin Reaper is amongst Banksy’s earliest known street art works. The graffiti appeared around the Old street and Shoreditch neighborhoods in the early 2000s. Most of these works along with were covered up during London’s 2007 anti-graffiti sweep.

Holding his traditional scythe and seated casually upon a large clock face, the traditional hooded visage of Death has been disconcertingly replaced with a bright yellow smiley face. The clock, imitating London’s iconic Big Ben, reads five minutes to midnight, as if Grin Reaper is waiting for the hour to strike before carrying out his morbid duties. The flat, yellow smiley face stands out as the only brightly colored element. Associated with ’90s rave and acid-house culture, the smiley face presents the Reaper as a pseudo-friendly character, playing with the boundaries between good and evil.
Banksy’s satirical twist has been read as a didactic metaphor for the contribution of human activity towards impending global catastrophe. This is implied by the time on the clock, which conveys that an irrevocable end is near.
Banksy created many different unique Artist’s Proofs on various medium, and colors.

Auction Results

Grin Reaper

2025 Sold Once
Selling Price: JPY 5,290,000 (USD 34,615 / GBP 26,645)
@ SBI Art Auction: 25 October 2025
2024 Sold Once
Selling Price: GBP 18,140 (USD 36,526) @ Forum Auctions on 29 October 2024
2023 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 48,098 (USD 59,720)
Top Price: GBP 56,280 (USD 69,225) @ Forum Auctions on 28 February 2023
2022 Sold 5 Times
Average Price: GBP 62,286 (USD 74,657)
Top Price: GBP 79,060 (USD 91,185) @ Bonhams London on 1 September 2022
2021 Sold 5 Times
Average Price: GBP 91,925 (USD 127,895)
Auction Record Price: GBP 107,200 (USD 146,865) @ Forum Auctions on 27 January 2022
2020  Sold 5 Times
Average Price: GBP 85,300 (USD 111,920)
Top Price: GBP 107,200 (USD 141,505) @ Forum Auctions on 27 October 2020

2025 Auction Results

SBI Art Auction: 25 October 2025
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 5,290,000 / USD 34,615 / GBP 26,645

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint
Signed, dated, numbered and embossed on the lower part
From the edition of 300

2024 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
Hammer: GBP 21,000
GBP 28,140 / USD 36,526

BANKSY (b.1974)
Grin Reaper (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered from the edition of 300 with the publisher’s blindstamp

2023 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 30 August 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
HAMMER GBP 33,500
GBP 44,890 / USD 57,110

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 300

Forum Auctions: 24 May 2023
Estimated: GBP 35,000 – 45,000
Hammer: GBP 33,000
GBP 44,220 / USD 54,687

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil from the edition of 300

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 47,000 / USD 57,860

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered in pencil from the edition of 300

Forum Auctions: 28 February 2023
Estimated: GBP 45,000 – 60,000
Hammer: GBP 42,000
GBP 56,280 / USD 69,224

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2022 Auction Results

Grin Reaper sold 5 times at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 311,430 (USD 373,287) at an average price of GBP 62,286 (USD 74,657).
Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 69,300 / USD 87,318

BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, and dated in pencil, lower center
Numbered 11/300 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
An untrimmed impression with surplus margin

2021 Auction Results

Grin Reaper sold 5 times at auction in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 459,624 (USD 639,477) at an average price of GBP 91,925 (USD 127,895). It sold at Forum Auctions in London, on 27 January 2022 for GBP 107,200 (USD 146,865), its all-time high auction record.
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 100,800 / USD 140,112
BANKSY
Grin Reaper (AP on Cream), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated, and inscribed AP in pencil, lower right
An artist’s proof on cream wove with a white printed border
(The regular edition of 300 has a black printed border and is on grey wove paper)
Bonhams New-York: 26 May 2021
GBP 88,874 / USD 125,312
BANKSY
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 225/300 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Forum Auctions: 27 January 2021
Estimated: GBP 75,000 – 100,000
GBP 80,000 (Hammer)
GBP 107,200 / USD 146,865
AUCTION RECORD FOR GRIN REAPER

BANKSY (b.1974)
Grin Reaper, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered from the edition of 300 with the publisher’s blindstamp