Banksy's 'Battle to Survive a Broken Heart' Heads to Auction, Supporting Heart Health Initiatives
An iconic piece by Banksy, titled Battle to Survive a Broken Heart, is set to be auctioned on 21 May, 2025, at Brookfield Place's Winter Garden in New York City. This 2013 mural, originally painted on a warehouse wall in Brooklyn's Red Hook neighbourhood, features a red, heart-shaped balloon adorned with bandages, a poignant symbol of emotional and physical healing. The artwork will be sold through Guernsey's auction house, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the American Heart Association in memory of the building's late owner, Vassilios Georgiadis, who passed away from heart disease.
A Gesture of Gratitude
The story behind the mural is as compelling as the artwork itself. In 2013, Georgiadis, a local contractor, offered parking advice to a van driver, unbeknownst to him, the driver was Banksy. Moved by the gesture, Banksy returned under the cover of night to create the mural on Georgiadis's warehouse wall. Shortly after its completion, the piece was defaced by another graffiti artist. In a rare move, Banksy revisited the site to restore and even enhance the mural, marking the only known instance where he has reworked one of his public pieces.
Preservation and Public Display
To protect the artwork from further damage, a 3.5-ton section of the warehouse wall was carefully removed and placed in storage in 2014. Now, after more than a decade, the mural is on public display at Brookfield Place, offering art enthusiasts a unique opportunity to view this piece before its auction.
Supporting Heart Health
The upcoming auction not only presents a chance to own a piece of street art history but also serves a noble cause. In honour of Georgiadis's memory, his family has pledged to donate a substantial portion of the auction proceeds to the American Heart Association. Nancy Brown, CEO of the association, expressed gratitude for the contribution, emphasising the artwork's symbolic representation of the millions affected by heart disease.
Banksy's Iconic Balloon Imagery
Battle to Survive a Broken Heart continues Banksy's recurring motif of balloons, symbolising innocence and hope amidst adversity. This theme is also evident in his renowned works like Girl with Balloon, depicting a young girl reaching out to a heart-shaped balloon, and Kids on Guns, showing children standing atop a pile of weapons, holding a balloon aloft. Both pieces, rich in social commentary, are available for viewing and purchase at London's Andipa Gallery.
For those interested in bidding on Battle to Survive a Broken Heart, the live auction will be held at Brookfield Place on May 21. The mural remains on public display until the day of the auction, inviting visitors to witness this unique street artwork.
For more information on the auction, visit Guernsey's.
To explore Banksy's other works, including Girl with Balloon and Kids on Guns, visit Andipa Gallery.
