'Crude Oils' by Banksy, 2005
Rare, original, limited production postcard collection cover set (front + back) from Banksy's "Crude Oils" show, London, UK.
6 x 4 Inches / 15.2 x 10.2 Centimeters each.
10 x 8 x 0.8 Inches (framed)
Offset lithograph printed glossy postcard set.
Open Edition (Sold Out).
Postcard collection images printed on bottom cover (reverse).
Excellent original condition.
*Note: Float-framed in UV-protective glass and black MDF frame molding.
ABOUT THE ART
Banksy is one of the world's most influential and enigmatic contemporary street artists, internationally celebrated for his provocative stencil-based imagery, dark humor and sharp critiques of consumerism, politics and popular culture. Emerging from Bristol's underground graffiti scene, the anonymous British artist has transformed street art into a global cultural phenomenon, with his exhibitions, installations and unconventional artistic interventions challenging traditional notions of art, ownership and commercial value.
Crude Oils (2005) was one of Banksy's most memorable early exhibitions, staged in a temporary gallery space at 100 Westbourne Grove in London. Subtitled A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin, the exhibition featured Banksy's irreverent reinterpretations of celebrated paintings by artists such as Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Edward Hopper. By introducing contemporary disruptions into familiar masterpieces, Banksy challenged the conventions of fine art while exploring themes of environmental destruction, consumer culture and the relationship between artistic originality and appropriation. The exhibition also famously incorporated live rats, reinforcing the artist's signature blend of subversion, spectacle and social commentary.
This original 2005 Crude Oils postcard collection cover set represents a fascinating surviving piece of ephemera from this important exhibition in Banksy's early career. Consisting of the original front and back covers, each measuring approximately 6 x 4 inches, the set features the exhibition's minimalist black cover design with distinctive white Banksy Crude Oils typography, while the reverse displays imagery from the accompanying postcard collection. Produced as offset lithographs on glossy postcard stock, these original, now-sold-out exhibition materials offer collectors a tangible connection to one of Banksy's most recognizable early gallery presentations.
Preserved in excellent original condition, the two-piece cover set is custom float-framed behind UV-protective glass in a black MDF frame measuring approximately 10 x 8 inches. An appealing example of authentic Banksy exhibition memorabilia, this collectible captures a pivotal moment in the artist's evolution from underground street artist to internationally recognized contemporary art figure.