A rare hand-painted Banksy owned by Blink-182‘s Mark Hoppus heads to Sotheby’s auction block next month, with proceeds supporting California wildfire victims. The painting, titled “Crude Oil (Vettriano),” carries an estimate of £3-5 million ($3.8-6.3 million).
The work, which has hung in Hoppus’s homes since 2011, reimagines Jack Vettriano’s iconic “The Singing Butler” with an environmental twist – adding hazmat-suited figures and a sinking oil tanker to the romantic beach scene. It debuted in Banksy’s landmark 2005 exhibition “Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism and Vermin.”
“We loved this painting since the moment we saw it,” Hoppus reflects. “It’s borne witness to our family over these past dozen years. It hung over the table in London where we ate breakfast and our son did his homework. It’s seen laughter and tears and parties and arguments.”
The musician plans to use proceeds to support multiple causes, including the California Fire Foundation and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, while also investing in works by emerging artists. “Coming back to punk rock, if you get lucky enough to gain success, you bring your friends with you,” Hoppus explains. “I want to be a fucking Medici.”
The painting will be exhibited at Sotheby’s New York through February 20 before heading to London for the March 4 auction.
