Dennis RomeroA Banksy mural chiseled from the wall of an L.A. gas station was widely believed to be worth $300,000 or so.
See also: Banksy Mural Ripped From L.A. Gas Station Could Be Worth $300K.
But when it went up for auction last week the winning bid was $209,000, a spokeswoman for Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills told us today.
The news comes amidst sightings of a possible Banksy piece in Downtown L.A:
Two LA Weekly readers sent us photos of this apparently new piece in the Downtown Los Angeles Arts District.
It certainly resembles Banksy's style but, to be sure, we asked his publicist about it. We have yet to hear back.
Credit: Courtesy Jonathan Wu.
The boy-with-a-drone piece is said to be on a wall on Rose Street between Traction Avenue and Second Street.
It wouldn't be the first time we've been burned by false Banksy news. In October we were had by a website that touted Banksy's return to Los Angeles. Unless he has indeed returned …
In any case, Julien's says “Flower Girl” drew mad interest, despite its final selling price:
This rare opportunity to own one of Banksy's early large-scale graffiti murals marked the first time a work of public street art by Bansky was sold at auction in America.
See also: Banksy Fakes Sold on Walmart Site, Artist Says.
Maybe somebody got a deal.
The auction house's “street art” sale, which included the work of several artists, saw more than $1 million worth of art go out the door in six hours, according to a statement.
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