Gangsta Rat
Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Year: 2004
Sheet: 50×30 cm (19 1/2 x 13 5/8 inches)
Editions: 150 signed, 350 unsigned
Colorways: 61×3 + 46+20+8 (all signed)
Artist’s Proofs: 61 (various colorways)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Colorways
Blue, Orange, Grey: 61 signed each
Pink: 46 signed
Green: 20 signed
Mint Green: 8 signed
Gangsta Rat Colorways
“They exist without permission. They are hated, hunted, and persecuted.
They live in quiet desperation amongst the filth.
And yet they are capable of bringing entire civilizations to their knees.”
Gangsta Rat combines spray-paint and black and white stenciling techniques. It depicts a black and white rat wearing a New York Mets baseball cap, a chain necklace, and carrying a ghetto blaster. The character portrayed is reminiscent of the New York underground style that was prevalent across the UK in the 1980s and 90s. Gangsta Rat appears to have tagged “iPow” on the wall behind him in spray paint. The image is an ironic social commentary on the ubiquity of Apple products, whereas POW is a clear reference to Banksy’s print publisher: Pictures on Walls.
Rats are one of Banksy’s greatest sources of inspiration and one of the most prolific subjects in his work. An anagram of “ART”, the rat is an allegorical tool used by Banksy to reveal the vices and flaws of the human race. The symbol of the rat is also closely associated with Banksy himself. Hunted down by the authorities, rats, like graffiti artists, tend to appear by night under the cover of darkness, and considered by much of society to be a pest (at least up to a few years ago…). By giving the figure of the rat a voice Banksy is speaking for those oppressed and defeated by the endless competition and consumerism of late capitalism.
Gangsta Rat Colorways
1. Gangsta Rat (Blue)
2. Gangsta Rat (Orange)
3. Gangsta Rat (Grey)
4. Gangsta Rat (Pink)
5. Gangsta Rat (Green)
6. Gangsta Rat (Mint Green)
Auction Market Overview
Gangsta Rat (unsigned)
Gangsta Rat (signed)
Gangsta Rat (signed) last sold at auction at Forum Auctions on 20 October 2021 for GBP 83,080 (USD 115,481). It sold at Forum Auctions on 7 December 2020 for GBP 154,100 (USD 206,494), setting a new auction record.
Gangsta Rat (unsigned)
2025 Auction Results
Tate Ward: 13 August 2025
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 12,280 / USD 16,670
BANKSY (British 1974-)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 350 in pencil
2024 Auction Results
Sotheby’s online: 26 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 15,600 / USD 20,764
BANKSY (b. 1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 304/350
SBI Art Auction: 14 September 2024
Estimated: JPY 3,000,000 – 5,000,000
JPY 3,220,000 / USD 22,750 / GBP 17,514
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint
Numbered and embossed on the lower right from the edition of 350
Forum Auctions: 30 April 2024
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 15,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 20,100 / USD 25,125
BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in black and red on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp
2023 Auction Results
Sotheby’s London: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 25,000
GBP 25,400 / USD 30,895
BANKSY (b. 1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 282/350 with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Forum Auctions: 30 August 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
HAMMER GBP 17,000
GBP 22,780 / USD 28,980
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 350
2022 Auction Results
Bonhams London: 27 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 38,100 / USD 48,005
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 171/350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Forum Auctions: 24 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 40,000
GBP 37,520 / USD 47,275
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp from the edition of 350, lower left
Tate Ward Auctions: 30 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 30,000 / USD 39,600
BANKSY (British 1974-)
Gangsta Rat, 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 129/350 in pencil
2021 Auction Results
Gangsta Rat (unsigned) sold 6 times at auction in 2021, for a total turnover of GBP 322,248 (USD 445,948) at an average price of GBP 53,708 (USD 74,325). It sold at Forum Auctions on 5 March 2021 for GBP 80,400 (USD 111,756) its highest price for 2021, and its world auction record.
2021 Auction Results
Forum Auctions: 20 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 35,000 – 50,000
GBP 27,000 (Hammer)
GBP 36,180 / USD 50,290
BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp
Phillips New-York: 20 April 2021
Estimated: USD 25,000 – 35,000
USD 60,480
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 255/350 in pencil, from the unsigned edition, with the publisher’s blindstamp
International Art Center Aukland: 30 March 2024
Estimated: NZD 40,000 – 60,000
NZD 60,000 (HAMMER)
NZD 72,072 / USD 50,724 / GBP 36,757
BANKSY (British b. 1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint, edition 110/350
Tate Ward Auctions: 24 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 35,000 – 45,000
GBP 45,000 / USD 62,550
BANKSY (British 1974-)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 350 in pencil
Forum Auctions: 5 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 60,000 (Hammer)
GBP 80,400 / USD 111,756
WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR GANGSTA RAT (UNSIGNED)
BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp
Forum Auctions: 5 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 60,000 (Hammer)
GBP 80,400 / USD 110,148
BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 350 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp
Gangsta Rat (signed)
Gangsta Rat (signed) last sold at auction at Forum Auctions on 20 October 2021 for GBP 83,080 (USD 115,481). It sold at Forum Auctions on 7 December 2020 for GBP 154,100 (USD 206,494), setting a new auction record.
Forum Auctions: 20 October 2021
Estimated: GBP 65,000 – 80,000
GBP 83,080 / USD 115,481
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower left
Numbered /150 in pencil, lower right
Forum Auctions: 7 December 2020
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 115,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 154,100 / USD 206,494
AUCTION RECORD FOR GANGSTA RAT (SIGNED)
BANKSY (b.1974)
Gangsta Rat (signed), 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered from the edition of 150 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp
Gangsta Rat (Colorways)
Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 56,700 / USD 73,256
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat – Pink, 2005
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and numbered 14/46 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp
Sotheby’s online: 20 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 80,000 – 120,000
GBP 114,300 / USD 142,055
Gangsta Rat (Lime Green A/P), 2004
Signed, dated and inscribed AP/41 in pencil, lower right
One of 10 artist’s proofs printed in this color combination
From the total edition of 61 artist’s proofs
printed in yellow, light grey, dark grey, blue, orange and red
Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 70,000 – 90,000
GBP 113,400 / USD 136,080
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (Green), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, lower left
Numbered 11/20 in pencil, lower left
Sotheby’s London: 18 September 2018
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 25,000
GBP 68,750 / USD 90,525
BANKSY
Gangsta Rat (Mint Green), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, numbered 1/8
(one of only eight impressions printed in this color combination)
Bonhams London: 17 June 2015
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 20,000 / USD 31,461
Screenprint in colors on wove
Signed and numbered 1/8 in pencil
Bonhams London: 17 April 2013
Estimated: GBP 5,000 – 8,000
GBP 13,125 / USD 20,007
Screenprint on paper
Signed and numbered 20/46