Banksy anti-Brexit artwork to be auctioned in London

Banksy’s anti-Brexit installation, titled ‘Keep Ou T’, is scheduled to go up for auction in London next month. The artwork, which dates back to 2019, is currently being displayed ahead of the Phillips Modern & Contemporary Art Auctions during Frieze Week.

The piece features a repurposed metal shutter from an EU arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. The words ‘KEEP OUT’ are painted on the gate, though the letter ‘T’ is missing; instead, one of Banksy’s signature rats is depicted using the ‘T’ as a tool to break the padlock at the bottom of the gate. The work is expected to fetch up to €2.1 million.

This installation follows other political works by the artist, such as a 2017 mural in Dover and the 2018 ‘Vote To Love’ piece, both of which expressed opposition to the United Kingdom’s departure from the European Union.