Banksy's Crude Oil (Vettriano)
Banksy's 2005 exhibition Crude Oils: A Gallery of Re-mixed Masterpieces, Vandalism, and Vermin saw the celebrated artist offering up renditions of famous paintings filtered through his anti-establishment lens. One of those was Jack Vettriano's The Singing Butler from 1992, which served as the basis for Crude Oil (Vettriano). While the original was set on a desolate, stormy beach, Banksy's remix adds a sinking oil tanker and hazmat crew dealing with a barrel of toxic waste. A prime example of Banksy's belief that corporate greed and consumerism were destructive forces, it's a striking work that found its way into the collection of Blink 182's Mark Hoppus in 2011. The frontman is now selling the 36" x 48" oil painting from his personal collection as part of Sotheby's London evening sale on March 4.
