No Ball Games (Grey), 2009
Edition: 250 signed
No Ball Games portrays two children playing outside with what appear to be a sign that reads, “NO BALL GAMES” as if it were a ball itself. The image, portrayed in Banksy’s iconic stencil-style, is obviously rich with irony. This monochromatic print (except for the red of the sign) is making a social comment on how even basic children’s activities seem to be now controlled and regulated, thus maybe even encouraging children (and adults) to break rules.
No Ball Games (Green), 2009
Edition: 250 signed
The irony of No Ball Games critiques the rules that Banksy believes restrict society on a daily basis. Banksy mocks overprotective governments, or “nanny states,” interfering with personal choice, implying that even innocent, everyday children’s activities like playing ball outside are controlled by the state.
Obviously, the children should be taken more widely as symbols for people in general, constantly under surveillance and regulation by a higher authority against the artist warns us.
This print is a great example of Banksy’s frequent use of children as symbols of innocence, purity, and a sense of freedom, to formulate subversive social critique, much like in his other prints such as Police Kids, Girl with Balloon or NOLA.
No Ball Games first appeared on canvas in 2006 at Barely Legal which took place in the area known as Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. However, in this first version, kids are playing with a TV displaying an image of a ball.
Three years later, Banksy reproduced the piece as a spray-painted mural in Tottenham in North London, on a shop wall at the junction between Tottenham High Road and Philip Lane.
2009 was a turning point for Banksy as he parted ways from long-term gallery Steve Lazarides, and announced a new entity called Pest Control Office would be the unique point of sale for Banksy artworks going forward. No Ball Games (Grey) was sold by Pictures on Walls, at their Commercial Street Gallery in London. No Ball Games (Green)was only sold via online lottery.
In 2013, the mural in Tottenham was removed from the wall and divided into three parts and sold to benefit disadvantaged children.
DESCRIPTION
No Ball Games
Year: 2009
Medium: Screen-print in colors on Arches wove paper
Size: 67×70 cm (26 3/8 x 27 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls
Editions
No Ball Games (Grey): 250 signed
No Ball Games (Green): 250 signed
Numbering and Signature
Signed in Grey/Green crayon, lower right
Numbered 250 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
AUCTION RESULTS
Updated as of 30 June 2022
1. No Ball Games (Green)
No Ball Games (Green), 2009
Signed in green crayon, lower right
Numbered XXX/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Forum Auctions, 3 March 2022
GBP 67,000 / USD 91,120
No Ball Games (Green), 2009
Signed in green crayon, lower right
Numbered 50/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s London, 10 November 2021
GBP 75,600 / USD 102,060
No Ball Games (Green), 2009
Signed in green crayon, lower right
Numbered 212/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Phillips New-York, 20 April 2021
GBP 67,986 / USD 94,500
No Ball Games (Green), 2009
Signed in green crayon, lower right
Numbered 88/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 19 September 2019
GBP 32,500
2. No Ball Games (Grey)
No Ball Games (Grey), 2009
Signed in grey crayon, lower right
Numbered 155/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
GBP 52,920 / USD 66,679
No Ball Games (Grey), 2009
Signed in grey crayon, lower right
Numbered 60/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Christie’s online, 15 March 2022
GBP 75,600 / USD 99,692
No Ball Games (Grey), 2009
Signed in grey crayon, lower right
Numbered 142/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 17 September 2021
GBP 88,200 / USD 122,598
No Ball Games (Grey), 2009
Signed in grey crayon, lower right
Numbered 174/250 in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 19 September 2019
GBP 27,500
