Monkey Queen
Monkey Queen
Unsigned Print
Banksy
£9,000-£14,000Value Indicator
$19,000-$29,000 Value Indicator
$17,000-$26,000 Value Indicator
¥90,000-¥140,000 Value Indicator
€10,500-€16,000 Value Indicator
$90,000-$150,000 Value Indicator
¥1,700,000-¥2,640,000 Value Indicator
$12,000-$19,000 Value Indicator
AAGR (5 years) This estimate blends recent public auction records with our own private sale data and network demand.
There aren't enough data points on this work for a comprehensive result. Please speak to a specialist by making an enquiry.
Medium: Screenprint
Edition size: 600
Year: 2003
Size: H 50cm x W 35cm
Signed: No
Format: Unsigned Print
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Auction Results
| Auction Date | Auction House | Location | Hammer Price | Return to Seller | Buyer Paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 2025 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| October 2024 | Sotheby's New York | United States | |||
| October 2024 | Christie's London | United Kingdom | |||
| July 2024 | Forum Auctions London | United Kingdom | |||
| June 2024 | Forum Auctions London | United Kingdom | |||
| July 2023 | SBI Art Auction | Japan | |||
| June 2023 | Phillips London | United Kingdom |
Meaning & Analysis
Monkey Queen is one of Banksy’s earliest screen prints, released as an unsigned edition of 600 in 2003. Featuring a monkey wearing the late Queen Elizabeth II's jewels and coiffed hair against a mod-style target, the image was controversial enough to spark ‘Banksygate’ but is only exemplary of Banksy’s defiant anti-authoritarian attitude.
Monkey Queen is a quintessential example of Banksy’s daring, unapologetic humour. The colourful work depicts a monkey wearing all the ornamentation of a Queen -- crown, diamond necklace and earrings – in front of a background of red, white, blue, except not that of the Union Jack, more the ‘target’ symbol synonymous with Mods. The three colour artwork of the photo-realistic monkey in Banksy’s spray-stencil-style is reminiscent of his earlier work Laugh Now, in which he prophesizes a society run by our primate cousins. Having a monkey queen would be the ultimate symbol of monkeys taking over (as envisaged in Planet of the Apes). This painting first appeared at a youth centre’s club called The Chill Out Zone on Broad Street in Newent in around 2004.
Renowned British street artist, Banksy, is the enigmatic figure behind some of the most subversive works in the Urban Art scene. Despite his anonymity, the artists' disruptive stunts have not only gained him notoriety, but they have vocalised his stance on many social and political issues. As seen with the likes of Girl With Balloon and Napalm, Banksy uses his distinctive stencil technique to produce thought-provoking commentaries on challenging themes. The showcase of rebellion that lines his work has caused his secondary market value to soar in recent years, propelling him to the top of the Urban Art scene.
