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
Will Barnes and Noble in the East Village spell doom for smaller shops? It's complicated.
Independent booksellers are grappling with whether the big-box chain is a threat or an ally in the fight against Amazon.
By
Sonia Rao
Published Oct 16, 2026
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
Arts & Entertainment
Can eligible NYC singles find love with 30 minutes and some really spicy food?
We went to the Spiciest Supper Club singles night to take the temperature of New York City's dating scene.
By
Elizabeth Shwe
and
James Ramsay
How the NYC Marathon has changed in the last 50 years
By
Hannah Frishberg
A visit to Art of Play, the Brooklyn store in an animatronic bird beef with Kelly Clarkson
By
Sonia Rao
The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?
By
Lindsay Lee Wallace
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 .