Banksy, Girl with Balloon (Signed), 2004

Screenprint in colours on paper 

50 x 70 cm (19 7/10 x 27 3/5 in)

Edition of 150

Accompanied with Pest Control Certificate of Authenticity 

Banksy's renowned artwork depicts a young girl with an outstretched left arm, reaching for – or releasing - a red, heart-shaped balloon which is carried by the wind. The viewer is invited to decipher whether the girl is on the verge of catching the balloon or if it has slipped through her fingers and is now drifting away from her. The piece is often interpreted as a symbol of hope, innocence, and freedom.

The Girl with Balloon stencil mural initially appeared on London's Southbank in 2002, accompanied by the inscription "There Is Always Hope". Banksy has revisited the image throughout his career and later released the motif with a limited print run in 2004/5, with 150 signed editions and 600 unsigned. The artist also reworked the image in support of social campaigns, for example, in 2005 on the West Bank Wall; in 2014 to draw attention to the Syrian refugee crisis; and in 2017 during the UK General Election. In 2017, Banksy's Girl with Balloon was voted the UK's favourite artwork in an online poll, affirming the popularity of the iconic image.