Toxic Mary

Banksy portrays religion as a toxic ideology passed from parents to children. More widely, the artist comments on the general toxicity of family relationships, in which outdated ideas and traditions repeat themselves. It may well also illustrate how our societies promote Big Pharma baby formula over natural breast milk.

Toxic Mary, initially entitled Virgin Mary was released at a price of GBP 150 for a signed print, and GBP 74.99 for an unsigned print. Toxic Mary first appeared at Turf War, Banksy’s exhibit in London in 2003. A few originals using the same visual sold at public auction.

Banksy (b. 1974)
Toxic Mary, 2003
Spray paint on two panels
180×188 cm (74 x 70 3/4 inches)

Painted on a monumental scale, Toxic Mary, 2003, is a forceful, rousing work from Banksy. Toxic Mary, Banky’s reinterpretation of a Renaissance Madonna, is one of the artist’s most iconic motifs, first appearing in his clandestine exhibition Turf War, held in London’s Dalston neighborhood in 2003. In the present work, he has depicted the Virgin Mary cradling baby Jesus, here shown as a double image that has been mirrored across the canvas. Both Marys feed their babies from orange hazard bottles, and, in the sky above, a ring of stars hangs as airplanes roar below; set against a gleaming white, all connotations of virtue and purity traditionally associated with the color have been purged from the canvas. The work not only satirises the seemingly unimpeachable relationship between mother and child, but also the role of religion more broadly, which, viewed through Bankys’s sardonic eye, is presented not as sheltering force, but as a social poison. If astral imagery has historically been used as a symbol of the heavens, in Banky’s rendering, the divine circle has been broken; the corona borealis of Toxic Mary conjures an unreliable and noxious presence.

Raphael, Madonna and Child

Instantly recognizable, Banky’s signature style resulted from an altercation with the police at age eighteen. Fleeing the officers one evening, the artist hid beneath a garbage truck, where he studied the lettering on the side of the cabin door. Using both stencils and spray paint, he has developed a highly legible visual idiom evident in Toxic Mary. The resulting lines are matte and sharp, befitting an approach that is daring, brazen and political. Indeed, part of the appeal of the stencils comes from the inherited history of the repeatedly traced image. Certainly, his subjects and philosophies are refracted through a wry and derisive lens through which myriad meanings unfold. For the artist, graffiti serves as both a tribute to the present moment and an outspoken demand for revolution.

Unique colorways were made available at the 2007 Santa’s Ghetto, in Palestine, and were sold only to buyers who attended for a price of $10,000. Each colorway was released in a edition of 44 signed prints.

1. Toxic Mary (Blue)

2. Toxic Mary (Pink)

3. Toxic Mary (Red)

Auction Market Overview

Toxic Mary (unsigned)

2026 Auction Results

Tate Ward Auctions: 17 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 6,000 – 8,000
GBP 7,500 / USD 9,940

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Toxic Mary’ (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 600 in pencil
Published by Pictures On Walls

2025 Auction Results

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint
Numbered and embossed on the lower left
From the edition of 600

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Toxic Mary’ (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 586/600 in pencil

Tate Ward Auctions: 19 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 10,000
GBP 10,625 / USD 13,695

BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Toxic Mary’ (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 586/600 in pencil

Forum Auctions: 5 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 10,000 (Hammer)
GBP 13,120 / USD 16,910

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

2024 Auction Results

Toxic Mary (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2024 at an average price of GBP 12,754 (USD 16,374). It sold for its highest price of GBP 20,420 (USD 25,908) in 2024 at Phillips in London on 7 June 2024.

Forum Auctions: 29 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
Hammer: GBP 8,500
GBP 11,390 / USD 14,784

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 600 in pencil

Phillips London: 7 June 2024
Estimated: GBP 10,000 – 15,000
GBP 20,320 / USD 25,908

Phillips New-York: 15 February 2024
Estimated: USD 15,000 – 20,000
USD 13,970

Toxic Mary (unsigned) sold 6 times at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 100,392 (USD 124,197) at an average price of GBP 16,732 (USD 20,700). The highest price of GBP 18,900 (USD 23,247) for 2023, was achieved at Christie’s online on 14 March 2023.

Sotheby’s online: 26 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 8,000 – 12,000
GBP 16,510 / USD 20,082

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 408/600 with the publisher’s blindstamp

Phillips London: 22 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 17,780 / USD 21,866

Forum Auctions: 24 May 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 15,000
GBP 18,760 / USD 23,200

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 600 in pencil

Sotheby’s online: 20 April 2023
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 13,970 / USD 17,390

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 429/600 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 18,900 / USD 23,247

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003-2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 235/600 in pencil, lower right

2022 Auction Results

Toxic Mary (unsigned) sold 5 times at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 139,620 (USD 178,877) at an average price of GBP 27,924 (USD 35,775). The highest price of GBP 37,800 (USD 51,408) for 2022, was achieved at Phillips London on 4 March 2022.

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 21,420 / USD 25,504

BANKSY
Toxic Mary, 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 484/600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Sotheby’s online: 17 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 24,000 – 30,000

GBP 30,240 / USD 42,034

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 170/600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower right

Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 88,200 / USD 122,598

AUCTION RECORD FOR TOXIC MARY (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 369/600 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Toxic Mary (signed)

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2026 Auction Results

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Forum Auctions: 19 March 2026
Estimated: GBP 14,000 – 16,000
GBP 14,000 (Hammer)
GBP 18,428 / USD 24,640

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (Signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil
Numbered from the edition of 150
Printed and published by Pictures on Walls, London, with their blindstamp

 2025 Auction Results

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Christie’s online: 1 April 2025
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 25,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 45,582

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003-2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated 04 and inscribed with a heart in pencil
Outside of the Edition (aside from the signed edition of 150) with the publisher’s blindstamp

2024 Auction Results

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Sotheby’s online: 26 September 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 21,600 / USD 28,750

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Toxic Mary (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil, dated and numbered 122/150 DN with the publisher’s blindstamp

Phillips London: 17 January 2024
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 33,020 / USD 41,818

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 81/150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp

2023 Auction Results

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Phillips London: 19 January 2023
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 31,500 / USD 38,745

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, dated and numbered 77/150 in pencil, lower right

2022 Auction Results

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Forum Auctions: 8 November 2022
GBP 28,000 (Hammer)
GBP 37,520 / USD 43,491

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (signed), 2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, numbered from the edition of 150

2021 Auction Results

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Toxic Mary (signed) sold 5 times at auction in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 269,851 (USD 370,703) at an average price of GBP 53,970 (USD 74,141). It sold at Forum Auctions on 27 January 2021 for GBP 73,700 (USD 100,969), its all-time high auction record price.

Phillips London: 13 July 2021
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 56,000

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003
Screenprint on paper
Signed, stamped with the artist’s name
Numbered and dated ‘BANKSY BANKSY 03 38/150’ lower right

Phillips Hong-Kong: 7 June 2021
Estimated: HKD 280,000 – 380,000
HKD 529,200 / GBP 48,028 / USD 68,200

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003

Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Screenprint in colors on wove paper

Numbered 127/150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Forum Auctions: 27 January 2021
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 55,000 (Hammer)
GBP 73,700 / USD 100,969
AUCTION RECORD FOR TOXIC MARY (SIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in black ink, numbered from the edition of 150 in pencil

2020 Auction Results

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Toxic Mary (signed) sold 6 times at auction in 2020 for a total turnover of GBP 219,336 (USD 279,877) at an average price of GBP 36,556 (USD 46,646). It sold at Sotheby’s online on 18 September 2020 for GBP 63,000 (USD 83,160), its highest price for 2020.

Sotheby’s online: 18 September 2020
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 63,000 / USD 83,160

BANKSY
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Numbered 119/150 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

Christie’s New-York: 4 March 2020
Estimated: USD 12,000 – 18,000
USD 27,500

BANKSY (B. 1975)
Toxic Mary (signed), 2003-2004
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated ’04’ in pencil, numbered 127/150

Toxic Mary (colorways)

Sotheby’s London: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 150,000 – 200,000
GBP 119,700 / USD 166,383

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Toxic Mary Colourway Gold & Pink, 2004
Screenprint in colors
Signed in pencil, numbered 33/44