Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Arts & Entertainment
Banksy's Heart Balloon To Be Sold In Miami
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 6, 2013
Modified Nov 6, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 6, 2013
Modified Nov 6, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
(via Banksy)
So what will happen to the Banksy pieces that remain in the city, since we can't just enjoy them? While the balloons that went up for the street artist's grand finale remain in police custody, gallery owner Stephan Keszler has purchased the other balloon: the one painted on a wall in Red Hook.
According to the NY Times, the gallery owner—who has purchased and resold Banksy's work before—said he "was contacted by half a dozen building owners who inadvertently ended up with Banksy originals on their properties [and] reached an agreement to buy the heart-shaped balloon dotted with bandages in Red Hook." The section the piece is on (which was heavily guarded) has now be taken out of the wall, and will be put on sale at Art Miami next month. Even though Omar got to it with his spray paint first, he still expects it to sell for up to $400,000.
As for the real balloons being held by the NYPD, they could be worth about as much, but unless someone claims them it's unclear what will happen to them. Keszler believes the building owner has the rights to them, so it wouldn't be surprising if they ended up on the auction block.
There are still a few Banksys up around town that you can see, and five are protected by plexiglass and gates.
Tagged
auction
balloon
banksy
red hook
sale
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE arts-entertainment
Some untold 9/11 stories are the strangest ones. They come to light in a new documentary.
Some untold 9/11 stories are the strangest ones. They come to light in a new documentary.
By
Stephen Nessen
Published Sep 6, 2026
Women gather at Gloria Steinem’s Upper East Side home to lay flowers, pay respects
The feminist icon, who died at 92, was a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
By
Catalina Gonella
Arts & Entertainment
Women gather at Gloria Steinem’s Upper East Side home to lay flowers, pay respects
The feminist icon, who died at 92, was a longtime resident of the neighborhood.
By
Catalina Gonella
Here’s what NYC's median rent of $4,200 gets you in each borough
By
David Brand
and
James Ramsay
September concerts in NYC: Dancehall, death metal and Erykah Badu
By
Hank Shteamer
Pete Davidson, Colin Jost to host free comedy show on their Staten Island Ferry
By
Hannah Frishberg
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .