Love Is In The Air

Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Year: 2003
Sheet: 50×70 cm (19 5/8 x 27 1/2 inches)
Edition: 500 (50 signed)
Artist’s Proofs: 27 signed AP
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

“If you want to say something and have people listen,
then you have to wear a mask”

Love Is In The Air, also known as Flower Thrower or LIITA, depicts a young man, dressed as a militant, wearing a backwards baseball cap and a bandana to mask the lower half of his face. He is caught in the middle of throwing a bouquet of flowers as if it were a grenade or Molotov cocktail. Despite the apparent aggression in his posture, the figure is getting ready to launch a universal symbol of love and peace as opposed to a weapon. This print exemplifies both Banksy’s formal artistic style as well as his powerful political activism, as it represents a powerful call for peace.
Typical of Banksy’s socially charged imagery, Love Is In The Air demonstrates the artist’s sustained interest in the absurdity of war, as well as the arbitrariness that can derive from unequal power dynamics. Indeed, while the spray-painted protagonist is armed with blooming plants and nothing else, the forces surrounding him seem to operate from heavier weaponry, placing him in a position of immediate danger.
Everywhere I Look Around (Barcode Love Is In The Air), Steve Lazarides, London
The first versions of Love Is In The Air Banksy did in London are long gone. The most well-known version was executed in 2003 as a large stenciled mural in Jerusalem shortly after the construction of the West Bank Wall, a 760km wall that separates Palestine from Israel. It is also featured on the cover of Banksy‘s book Wall and Piece.
BANKSY’S FAMOUS MURAL RAGE, THE FLOWER THROWER (LOVE IS IN THE AIR) PAINTED ON A WALL IN BETHLEHEM, PALESTINE, PHOTO © MATTHIAS KESTLE / ALAMY STOCK PHOTO ARTWORK: © BANKSY 2021
Reminiscent of late-1960s images of students protesting the Vietnam War, Love Is In The Air shows the figure of a young man leaning back with an arm stretched outwards, as if winding up to throw something aggressively. Yet, instead of being seized in an act of violence that one would assume involves a bomb or a grenade, Banksy’s subject carries a symbol for peace and beauty — a bouquet of flowers. Extracted from a presumably chaotic and violent context and standing alone, poetically resilient in a sea of nothingness, the man is disconcertingly removed from the situation of unrest that his movements and attire suggest.
AN AMERICAN YOUNG GIRL, JAN ROSE KASMIR, CONFRONTS THE AMERICAN NATIONAL GUARD OUTSIDE THE PENTAGON DURING THE 1967 ANTI-VIETNAM MARCH.
PHOTO © MARC RIBOUD  MAGNUM PHOTOS
Love Is In The Air was released in 2003 as an edition of 500, out of which approximately 50 are signed (not always in order). Release prices were GBP 40 (unsigned), and GBP 80 (signed) back in 2003. Love Is In The Air is recognized as one of Banksy’s most iconic and most sought-after artworks, existing not only in the realm of fine arts but also as the graphically powerful subject of numerous commodified goods, including posters, phone covers, t-shirts and other types of merchandise all over the world.

 

 

Auction Market Overview

Love Is In The Air (unsigned)

2025 Sold 7 Times
Average Price: GBP 27,654 (USD 36,706)
Top Price: GBP 40,880 (USD 55,000) @ Heritage Auctions on 16 October 2025
2024 No Sale at Auction in 2024
2023 Sold 7 Times
Average Price: GBP 39,663 (USD 49,191)
Top Price: CHF 67,400 (GBP 60,380 / USD 75,165) @ Koller Zurich on 22 June 2023
2022 Sold 6 Times
Average Price: GBP 79,334 (USD 102,197)
Top Price: GBP 100,800 (USD 138,096) @ Phillips London on 20 January 2022
2021 Sold 17 Times
Average Price: GBP 116,724 (USD 161,012)
Top Price: GBP 214,200 (USD 297,738) @ Sotheby’s online on 18 March 2021
2020  Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 120,544 (USD 157,125)
Auction Record Price: GBP 214,200 (USD 282,745) @ Sotheby’s online on 18 September 2020

 

Love Is In The Air (signed/signed AP)

2025 No Sale at Auction in 2025
2024 Sold Twice
Average Price: GBP 39,663 (USD 49,191)
Top Price: GBP 82,550 (USD 107,820) @ Phillips London on 11 October 2024
2023 Sold Once
Top Price: GBP 114,700 (USD 144,459) @ Bonhams London 0n 12 December 2023
2022 Sold 4 Times
Average Price: GBP 188,850 (USD 245,054)
Top Price: GBP 201,000 (USD 275,370) @ Forum Auctions on 3 February 2022
2021 Sold 6 Times
Average Price: GBP 313,563 (USD 430,448)
Top Price: GBP 475,000 (USD 655,500) @ Christie’s online on 1 April 2021
2020  Sold Once
Auction Record Price: USD 687,500 (GBP 509,260) @ Christie’s New-York on 3 December 2020

 

 

LIITA (unsigned)

2026 Auction Results

Heritage Auctions: 29 January 2026
No Estimates Received – No Reserve
USD 40,000

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Edition: 149/500
Numbered in pencil lower right
Published by Pictures On Walls, London

2025 Auction Results

Bonhams online: 20 November 2025
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 25,000
GBP 23,040 / USD 30,345

BANKSY (British, born 1974)
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 236/500 in pencil
Published by Pictures on Walls

Heritage Auctions: 16 October 2025
Estimated: USD 30,000 – 50,000
USD 55,000


BANKSY (b. 1974)
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Ed. 414/500
Editioned in pencil lower right

Tate Ward Auctions: 25 June 2025
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 20,000 / USD 27,340


BANKSY (British 1974-)
‘Love Is In The Air’ (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from an edition of 500 in pencil

Phillips London: 5 June 2025
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 25,400 / USD 34,290
BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned) ,2003
Screenprint in colors, on wove paper
Numbered 82/500 in pencil
An unsigned impression
(the first 50 of the edition were signed, there were also 27 artist’s proofs)

Sotheby’s New-York: 15 April 2025
Estimated: USD 35,000 – 45,000
USD 48,260

BANKSY (b. 1974)
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil 74/500

SBI Art Auction: 8 March 2025
Estimated: JPY 4,000,000 – 7,000,000
JPY 4,370,000 / USD 29,575

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint
Numbered and inscribed “DN” on the lower right
From the edition of 500

Forum Auctions: 5 March 2025
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 19,000 (Hammer)
GBP 24,930 / USD 32,130

BANKSY (b.1974)
Love is in the Air (Flower Thrower) (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in red and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 500 in pencil

2024 Auction Results

Love Is In the Air (unsigned) has not sold at auction in 2024.

2023 Auction Results

Love Is In the Air (unsigned) sold 7 times in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 277,640 (USD 344,338), at an average price of GBP 39,663 (USD 49,191). It last sold at SBI Art Auction on 28 October 2023 for USD 40,723. It sold for its highest price at Koller Auktionen on 22 June 2023 for CHF 67,400 (USD 75,164).

SBI Art Auction: 28 October 2023
Estimated: JPY 5,000,000 – 8,000,000
JPY 6,095,000 / USD 40,723

BANKSY
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint
Numbered and inscribed “DN” on the lower right from the edition of 500

Christie’s online: 28 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 49,594

BANKSY
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 65/500 in pencil (only the first fifty in the edition were signed)

Koller: 22 June 2023
Estimated: CHF 30,000 – 50,000
CHF 67,400 / USD 75,164

BANKSY
Love is in the air (unsigned), 2003
Color screenprint
Numbered 449/500 with the serigraphed inscription BANKSY lower right

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

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 500

Tate Ward Auctions: 29 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 30,000 – 50,000
GBP 33,600 / USD 41,364

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 220/500 in pencil, lower right

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 40,320 / USD 49,594

BANKSY
Love is in the Air, 2003
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Numbered 136/500 in pencil, lower right

2022 Auction Results

Love Is In the Air (unsigned) sold 6 times in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 476,003 (USD 613,181), at an average price of GBP 79,334 (USD 102,197). It sold for its highest price at Phillips on London on 20 January 2022 for GBP 100,800 (USD 138,096).

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 75,600 / USD 90, 720

BANKSY
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 278/500 in pencil, lower right

Christie’s online, 15 March 2022
GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 75,600 / USD 99,792

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 450/500 in pencil, lower right

Phillips London: 19 January 2022
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 100,800 / USD 138,096

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 221/500 in pencil, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Love Is In the Air (unsigned) sold 17 times in 2021 for a total turnover of GBP 1,984,310 (USD 2,737,205), at an average price of GBP 116,724 (USD 161,012). It sold for its highest price at Sotheby’s online in London on 18 March 2021 for GBP 214,200 (USD 297,738).


Sotheby’s London: 10 November 2021
Estimated: GBP 60,000 – 80,000
 GBP 81,900 / USD 110,565

BANKSY
Love Is In the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 321/500 in pencil, lower right
Christie’s online: 23 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 60,000 / USD 83,400BANKSY
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 120/500 in pencil (only the first fifty in the edition were signed)
Christie’s online: 22 July 2021
Estimated: USD 90,000 – 120,000
USD 100,000 / GBP 71,940
BANKSY (B. 1974)
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors, on wove paper
Numbered ’66/500′ in pencil
Bonhams London: 28 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 60,000 – 80,000
GBP 87,500 / USD 121,975

BANKSY (British, born 1975)
Love Is In The Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove
Numbered 320/500 in pencil
Christie’s online: 1 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 137,500 / USD 189,750
BANKSY (B. 1974)
Love is in the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 412/500 in pencil (only the first fifty in the edition were signed)

Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 214,200 / USD 297,738

AUCTION RECORD FOR LOVE IS IN THE AIR (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY
Love Is In the Air (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 231/500 in pencil, lower right

2020 Auction Results

Love Is In the Air (unsigned) sold 4 times in 2020 for a total turnover of GBP 482,176 (USD 628,499), at an average price of GBP 120,544 (USD 157,125). It sold for its highest price and all-time high auction record at Sotheby’s online in London on 18 September 2020 for GBP 214,200 (USD 282,745).

Sotheby’s online: 18 September 2020
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 214,200 / USD 282,745
AUCTION RECORD FOR LOVE IS IN THE AIR (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
LOVE IS IN THE AIR (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 51/500 in pencil

Forum Auctions: 24 March 2020
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
GBP 25,000 (Hammer)
GBP 33.500 / USD 39,475

BANKSY (b.1974)
Love is in the Air (Flower Thrower) (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 500 in pencil

LIITA (signed)

2024 Auction Results

Bonhams London: 10 December 2024
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 63,900 / USD 83,070

BANKSY (British, born 1974)
Love is in the Air (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in black ink and numbered ’43/500 DN’ in pencil

Phillips London: 11 October 2024
Estimated: GBP 80,000 – 120,000
GBP 82,550 / USD 107,820

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (signed), 2003
Screenprint on paper
Signed and dated ‘BANKSY 2003’ lower right
This work is outside the edition (of 500 plus 27 artist’s proofs)

2023 Auction Results

Bonhams London: 12 December 2023
Estimated: GBP 100,000 – 150,000
GBP 114,700 / USD 144,460

BANKSY (British, born 1974)
Love is in the Air (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in black ink and numbered ’43/500 DN’ in pencil

2022 Auction Results

Sotheby’s online: 17 August 2022
Estimated: GBP 100,000 – 150,000
GBP 189,000 / USD 226,800

BANKSY
Love is in the Air (AP), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed in pencil and numbered AP/15
An artist’s proof aside from the numbered edition of 500

Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 150,000 – 250,000
GBP 189,000 / USD 238,140

BANKSY
Love Is In The Air (signed), 2003
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 49/500 in pencil, lower right

 Sotheby’s London: 3 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 150,000 – 250,000
GBP 176,400 / USD 239,904

BANKSY
Love Is In the Air (signed AP), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed, stamped with the artist’s blindstamp, and inscribed AP/03 in pencil, lower right

2021 Auction Results

Christie’s online: 23 September 2021
Estimated: GBP 200,000 – 300,000
 GBP 225,000 / USD 312,750

BANKSY
Love Is In the Air (Signed AP), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in pencil, lower right
Inscribed AP in pencil, lower right

Christie’s online: 1 April 2021
Estimated: GBP 300,000 – 500,000
GBP 475,000 / USD 655,500
BANKSY
Love Is In the Air (signed), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated in black ink, lower right
Numbered 11/500 in pencil, lower right

2020 Auction Results

Christie’s New-York: 3 December 2020
Estimated: USD 150,000 – 200,000
USD 687,500 / GBP 509,260
AUCTION RECORD FOR LIITA (signed)

BANKSY (b. 1975)
Love is in the Air (signed AP), 2003
Screenprint on paper
Signed and numbered ‘BANKSY AP/17’ (lower right)
One of twenty-seven signed artist’s proofs
Aside from the edition of five hundred of which only the first fifty were signed