JULIEN’S AUCTIONS IS PROUD TO PRESENT BRACE YOURSELF FOR BANKSY: MODERN AND CONTEMPORARY ART AN AUCTION EVENT TAKING PLACE LIVE IN BEVERLY HILLS AND ONLINE AT JULIENSLIVE.COM ON WEDNESDAY, MARCH 29TH, 2023 (7:00 P.M. PACIFIC TIME)

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Featuring the first public auction of Banksy’s original “Brace Yourself!” Grim Reaper painting, preceded by a live on-stage performance by the British band of the same name, for whom Banksy created the painting.

Together with a collection of over seventy works from artists such as Invader, KAWS, Collette Miller, David Yarrow, Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison, Actor Jim Carrey, Television Personality Bob Ross, and More

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A UK Exhibition of the Banksy Painting will take place at the Hard Rock Cafe (Piccadilly Circus) in London, opening on Thursday, March 9th.

Additionally on offer will be numerous works of fine art formerly owned by celebrities such as Mia Farrow, Greta Garbo, Sid Caesar, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

The highlight of the evening will be the sale of a rare large-scale (8 by 6 feet) painting on canvas by one of the art world’s most talked about figures, Banksy.

The artwork depicts the Grim Reaper (aka Death) buckled into a carnival ride bumper car, across the hood of which is scrawled the caption... "Brace Yourself!"



Banksy created the artwork in 2010 for a local British band known as "Exit Through the Gift Shop." The group's name unfortunately happened to be the same title Banksy wanted for his about to be released street art film. To avoid any confusion or copyright issues Banksy offered the band an original painting in return for permanently changing their name. As promised, the painting would feature the group's new name incorporated into a unique composition which they could then use freely to promote themselves. The current work on offer was Banksy's finished product, depicting Death riding in a bumper car (or a dodgem as they're known in the UK). The transaction was well publicized in the British press, with articles appearing in The Guardian and The Telegraph. According to the original email correspondence, Banksy humorously offered to paint a smiley face on Death if the band felt the imagery was too dark.

The earliest known examples of Banksy's "Grim Reaper" motif appeared in 2003, when in his hometown of Bristol, a Reaper stencil painting was executed on the side of a ship used as an underground night club. That same year Banksy designed a stencil featuring the Grim Reaper with a smiley face which was used on placards carried during an anti-war protest in England. Another example of the Reaper with a smiley face was later produced as a limited-edition series of prints in 2005.

The "Harvester of Souls" would appear again in the current work on offer, "Brace Yourself!" which was executed in 2010.

The same imagery, featuring death in a bumper car, would be adapted into a 3D kinetic art installation which drew crowds in New York City during Banksy's 2013 "Better Out than In" residency. The installation was accompanied by an online audio track in which Banksy was quoted as saying that he wanted to make, "...a piece of art that would last forever, about the importance of living in the moment."

The 3D bumper car installation was subsequently on display again as part of Banksy's "Dismaland" project in 2015.

The work currently on offer was exhibited in April of 2014 as part of the controversial "Stealing Banksy?" exhibition, and in May through November of 2021 as part of the "Art of Banksy" exhibition.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this rare artwork will go towards benefiting the MusiCares charity organization. MusiCares provides the music community a support system of health and human services across a spectrum of need including physical and mental health, addiction recovery, unforeseen personal emergencies and disaster relief.

Other highlights of the auction include…

David Yarrow Signed Original Limited-Edition “Compton Cowboys” Photograph
A large-scale limited-edition archival pigment print photograph by David Yarrow, shot inside of the Warwick nightclub in Hollywood and featuring the Compton Cowboys, an LA group who use equestrian activities to provide a positive influence on inner-city youth.
Estimate: $30,000-50,000

Jim Carrey Signed Original “Donald Trump – Halloween Cyclops” Artwork
A framed original marker on paper illustration of Donald Trump as a cyclops, executed and signed by Jim Carrey. The illustration was posted by Carrey on his Twitter account in 2018 with the caption, "Some people aren't pretending to be monsters. Happy Halloween." In a 2018 article published in Vulture magazine, Carrey commented: "This is my Halloween drawing. To me, the right is a cyclops, it sees in two dimensions. What can I have, what can I get, how can I f#!k these people and get it? To me that's a very narrow field of vision to live in, so I depicted Trump as a cyclops on Halloween because there's no perception going on there... if there's enough snowflakes, it creates a blizzard and that's what we're going to do... you've got to get rid of these guys, these are criminals."
Estimate: $1,000-2,000

Bob Ross Original “Make a Happy Buck” Forest Painting
A painting on canvas depicting a birch tree forest at night hand-executed and gifted by Bob Ross to his close friend Dana Jester so that Jester could finish it and then sell it. Ross included a handwritten note telling Jester, "Dana, you can finish this one & make a happy buck - Bob." Includes a first printing of The Joy of Painting with Bob Ross - Volume 26 which depicts the process of making birch tree paintings and features a finished example on the front cover. The famed painter and television personality of the long-running PBS show, “The Joy of Painting” and subject of the recent documentary film Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed, created 30,000 paintings yet his work is rarely made available for purchase.
Estimate: $5,000-7,000

Colette Miller Original Grammy Museum “Wings” Mural
The large-scale mural by Miller, the creator of the Global Angels Wings Project, was commissioned by the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles and was displayed from October 2018 through November 2022, during which time thousands of people were photographed with the wings behind them, representing the power in all of us to fly. The musical notes floating across the mural are from Michael Jackson's hit song, "Man in the Mirror." Colette Miller has painted wings globally in Kenya, Moscow, Australia, Europe, England, Dubai, The World Trade Center, Japan, Cuba, Juarez Mexico, China, and more.
Estimate: $3,000-5,000

David Willardson Original Johnny Rockets Painting
An original acrylic on canvas painting inspired by Norman Rockwell's 1950s era compositions, created for the American restaurant chain, Johnny Rockets. This is the original finished artwork from which they produced poster prints to use as decor in the various branches. Willardson is most famous as the designer of Hollywood movie posters for films such as American Graffiti and Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark. Additionally, eight original artworks by Willardson, consisting of original design concept illustrations as well as completed canvas paintings hung in various Johnny Rocket restaurants will also be offered.
Estimate: $500-700

Dave Navarro and Billy Morrison Original “Bristol Limousine” Bumper Car Artwork
A vintage carnival bumper car completely customized by musician, activist, and street artist, Dave Navarro (aka Lifeafterdeath) and visual artist and musician, Billy Morrison, with housepaint, acrylic, and aerosol, and titled "Bristol Limousine" after the hometown of famed street artist, Banksy. Signed by both artists in aerosol with their respective symbols. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this artwork will go towards benefitting MusiCares.
Estimate: $8,000-10,000

Invader Original “WN-25” Vienna Mosaic Artwork
An original tile mosaic by Invader “WN-25” that was affixed to the side of a building at the corner of Werdertorgasse and Gonzagagasse in Vienna, Austria in 2006 and now mounted onto an acrylic panel.
Estimate: $4,000-6,000

The Duke and Duchess of Windsor Owned “Girl Old Enough To Know Better” Artwork
A framed gouache on gold paper artwork, previously owned by The Duke and Duchess of Windsor. The artwork depicts a humorous and politically relevant inscription which reads, Girl Old Enough To Know Better Would Like To Meet Man Not Quite That Old.
Estimate: $4,000-6,000

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ABOUT MUSICARES

MusiCares helps the humans behind music because music gives so much to the world. Offering preventive, emergency, and recovery programs, MusiCares is a safety net supporting the health and welfare of the music community. Founded by the Recording Academy in 1989 as a U.S. based 501(c)(3) charity, MusiCares safeguards the well-being of all music people through direct financial grant programs, networks of support resources, and tailored crisis relief efforts. For more information please visit: www.MusiCares.org.

ABOUT HARD ROCK ®

Hard Rock International (HRI) is one of the most globally recognized companies with venues in 69 countries spanning 240 locations that include owned/licensed or managed Hotels, Casinos, Rock Shops® and Cafes. HRI also launched the Hard Rock Digital joint venture in 2020 to focus on online and retail sportsbook and interactive gaming.

Beginning with an Eric Clapton guitar, Hard Rock owns the world's most valuable collection of music memorabilia at more than 86,000 pieces, which are displayed at its locations around the globe. In 2020, Hard Rock International was honored as one of Forbes Magazine’s Best Employers for Diversity. In 2019 and 2020, Hard Rock was named Forbes Magazine’s Top Employers for Women. Hard Rock destinations are located in international gateway cities, including its two most successful flagship properties in Florida and home to the world’s first Guitar Hotel® in South Florida, Global Gaming’s 2020 Property of the Year. The brand is owned by HRI parent entity The Seminole Tribe of Florida. For more information on Hard Rock International visit www.hardrock.com or shop.hardrock.com.

This limited catalogue also provides an opportunity for a special keepsake for your collection.

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