In a twist befitting its dramatic history, Banksy’s famed self-destructing artwork has undergone yet another transformation. Originally titled ‘Girl with Balloon,’ the piece has now been renamed ‘Girl Without Balloon,’ marking its second title change since the 2018 auction.
The artwork grabbed headlines in October 2018 when, immediately after being auctioned at Sotheby’s London, it partially shredded itself, thanks to a mechanism hidden in its frame. This unexpected event led Pest Control, Banksy’s studio, to rename the piece from ‘Girl with Balloon’ (2006) to ‘Love is in the Bin’ and update its creation date to 2018. After a week of discussions, Sotheby’s issued a new certificate of authenticity, and the original bidder agreed to acquire the now-historic piece for £1.04 million ($1 million), plus fees.
The piece resurfaced at Sotheby’s London in October 2021, fetching a record £16 million…
