Welcome To Hell

Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Year: 2004
Sheet: 50×35 cm (19 1/2 x 13 1/2 inches)
Editions: 75 signed, 175 unsigned
Some in Red, some in Pink
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

 

Welcome To Hell is part of the Placard Rat series, a trilogy of three screen prints released in 2004 featuring the artist’s iconic rat holding up a placard bearing the work’s title. The two other prints are Get Out While You Can and Because I’m Worthless. The inspiration behind the series comes from “Get Out While You Can” by author George Marshall, a book explaining how to find a way out of “salary slavery” or “rat race”. A number of variations of the Placard Rat were painted by Banksy in the streets of London as well as many other rats, leading to the rodent becoming a signature motif, or even alter ego, for the artist. Placard Rat was first seen on Chiswell Street in London, accompanied by the words “London Doesn’t Work.”

Welcome To Hell portrays a rat standing up on two feet, like a human, and holding up a placard reading “Welcome To Hell” in bright red or pink writing. The rat, wearing a necklace bearing a peace sign, is seemingly engaged in a form of social protest as well as a warning of a danger still to come. The violence of the message is contrasted by the peace sign around the rat’s neck in a complex double meaning, characteristic of Banksy’s work. The sign, in bright red splattered paint inevitably reminds the viewer of blood. Welcome to Hell clearly stands for Banksy’s position on law enforcement, militarism, capitalism and consumerism, with a clear warning against modern life in the over-surveilled city.

Pest Modernism

Banksy, Cut It Out, December 2004
 
By giving the figure of the rat a voice Banksy is speaking for those oppressed and defeated by capitalism and consumerism with a warning against modern life in the over-surveilled city.
Obviously, Banksy also sees something of himself in his rat character as an artist who works under the radar, operating largely at night, and is considered by much of society to be a pest.
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.

 Auction Market Overview

Welcome to Hell (unsigned)

2025 Sold Once
Selling Price: GBP 10,795 / USD 14,255 @ Sotheby’s London on 1 August 2025
2024 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 13,945 (USD 18,099)
Top Price: GBP 15,120 (USD 19,176) @ Christie’s online on 26 March 2024
2023 Sold Once
Selling Price: GBP 17,400 (USD 21,420) @ Tate Ward Auctions on 29 March 2023
2022 No Sale at Auction in 2022
2021 Sold Twice
Average Price: GBP 39,610 (USD 55,058)
Top Price: GBP 44,220 (USD 61,466) @ Forum Auctions on 23 April 2021
2020 Sold Once
Auction Record Price: HKD 504,000 (USD 65,000 / GBP 48,510)
@ Phillips Hong-Kong on 4 December 2020

 

Welcome to Hell (signed)

2025 No Sale at Auction in 2025
2024 Sold Once
Selling Price: USD 38,400 @ Sotheby’s New-York on 22 October 2024
2023 Sold Twice
Average Price: GBP 53,150 (USD 65,399)
Top Price: GBP 60,300 (USD 74,169) @ Forum Auctions on 22 February 2023
2022 Sold Once
Selling Price: GBP 94,500 (USD 119,070) @ Sotheby’s online on 26 April 2022
2021 Sold 3 Times
Average Price: GBP 83,600 (USD 117,498)
Top Price: GBP 94,000 (USD 132,712) @ Bonhams London on 25 February 2021
2020 Sold 3 Times
Average Price: GBP 93,680 (USD 124,957)
Auction Record Price: GBP 148,740 (USD 199,312) @ Forum Auctions on 7 December 2020

 

WTH (unsigned)

2025 Auction Results

Sotheby’s London: 1 August 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 10,795 / USD 14,255

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 155/175 with the publisher’s blindstamp

2024 Auction Results

Forum Auctions: 4 December 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
Hammer: GBP 11,000
GBP 12,060 / USD 15,655

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 15,000
Hammer: GBP 11,000
GBP 14,740 / USD 19,133

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in black and pink on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 1 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 13,860 / USD 18,434

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 115/175 in pencil (there was also a signed edition of 75) with the publisher’s blindstamp

Christie’s online: 26 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 15,120 / USD 19,176

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 85/175 in pencil

2023 Auction Results

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 17,400 / USD 21,420

BANKSY
Welcome To Hell (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 175/175 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

2022 Auction Results

Welcome to Hell (unsigned) did not sell at auction in 2022.

2021 Auction Results

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 35,000 / USD 48,650

BANKSY (British 1974-)
Welcome To Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 175 in pencil

Forum Auctions: 23 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 33,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 44,220 / USD 61,466

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 175 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

WTH (signed)

2024 Auction Results

Sotheby’s New-York: 22 October 2024
Estimated: USD 40,000 – 60,000
USD 38,400

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 48/75 with the publisher’s blindstamp

2023 Auction Results

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold twice at auction in 2023, at Tate Ward Auction on 29 March 2023 for GBP 46,000 (USD 56,629), and at Forum Auctions on 22 February 2023 for GBP 60,300 (USD 74,169).

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 46,000 / USD 56,629

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 22/75 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Forum Auctions: 22 February 2023
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
Hammer Price: GBP 45,000
GBP 60,300 / USD 74,169

BANKSY
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated, and inscribed ‘DN’ in pencil lower left
From the numbered edition of 75 with the publisher’s blinstamp

2022 Auction Results

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 94,500 / USD 119,070

BANKSY
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower left
Numbered 49/75 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Welcome To Hell (signed) sold 3 times at auction in 2021 at an average price of GBP 83,600 (USD 117,498). It sold at Bonhams in London on 25 February 2021 for GBP 94,000 (USD 132,712), its highest price for 2021.

2021 Auction Results


Sotheby’s London: 26 May 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 63,000 / USD 89,400

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Welcome To Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated, numbered 61/75, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Forum Auctions: 23 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 75,000 – 100,000
GBP 70,000 (HAMMER)
GBP 93,800 / USD 130,382

BANKSY (b.1974)
Welcome to Hell (Pink) (signed), 2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered from the edition on 75 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp

Bonhams London: 25 February 2021
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 94,000 / USD 132,712

BANKSY (British, born 1975)
Welcome to Hell (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered ’25/75′ in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp