'M.V. Louise Michel – Search Rescue Solidarity' by Banksy, 2023
Official Banksy-Designed Patch Set in Framed Display.
10 x 8 Inches / 25.4 x 20.3 Centimeters (framed)
Official embroidered patch set - designed by Banksy - in support of the M.V. Louise Michel;
the civilian search-and-rescue vessel funded by Banksy and operating in the Mediterranean Sea.
Includes “Search Rescue Solidarity” vessel patch and matching “M.V. Louise Michel” identification patch.
Framed by Signari Gallery alongside a color photograph of the distinctive pink-and-white rescue vessel at sea.
*Note: Framed with white mat board in UV-protective glass and black MDF molding.
*Note: Excellent overall condition - Ready to hang.
ABOUT THE ART
Banksy is one of the world's most influential and enigmatic contemporary street artists, internationally recognized for his provocative stencil-based imagery, political activism and sharp social commentary. Emerging from Bristol's underground graffiti scene, the anonymous British artist has become a global cultural phenomenon, frequently using his work to challenge authority, expose social injustice and draw attention to humanitarian causes.
M.V. Louise Michel is a civilian search-and-rescue vessel funded by Banksy and launched in August 2020 to assist refugees and migrants attempting dangerous crossings of the Mediterranean Sea. Named in honor of the 19th-century French anarchist and feminist Louise Michel, the vessel features a distinctive pink-and-white exterior incorporating Banksy's visual identity. The project attracted international attention, representing one of the artist's most significant direct humanitarian interventions and demonstrating his commitment to social activism beyond conventional street art.
This M.V. Louise Michel – Search Rescue Solidarity (2023) collectible features a pair of embroidered patches bearing the vessel's distinctive Banksy-designed insignia. The circular Search Rescue Solidarity patch depicts the rescue vessel navigating the sea, surrounded by nautical rope detailing and bold lettering in black, white and pink. Accompanying it is the matching rectangular M.V. Louise Michel identification patch, completing the two-piece set.
Presented alongside a color photograph of the actual pink-and-white rescue vessel operating in the Mediterranean, the patches have been custom-framed by Signari Gallery in a black frame measuring approximately 10 x 8 inches. The display brings together the project's recognizable graphic identity and documentary imagery, creating a compelling presentation of this unusual piece of Banksy-related memorabilia.
Preserved in excellent overall condition and ready to hang, this framed patch set offers collectors a distinctive connection to Banksy's humanitarian activism. Unlike his traditional prints and street-art imagery, these embroidered insignia represent a functional design associated with a real-world rescue mission, reflecting the artist's ongoing exploration of the intersection between art, politics and social responsibility.