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Nola, 2008

BY
Nola (White Rain), 2008
Edition: 289 signed
 

‘Some of the things that are supposed to protect us, can also harm us.’

 

Nola portrays a young girl in black and white, in a dress beneath a black umbrella, holding one hand out and feeling the rain that is pouring down. The background is a block grey as white rain falls from the umbrella. Rendered in Banksy’s classic graffiti-spray-stencil style, this artwork that originally appeared as a mural on a wall in New Orleans.

 

This striking image of a girl being drenched by rain from inside of her umbrella is in reference to the devastating event of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, which have been amplified by failure of the flood defenses that had been designed to protect the citizens from such a disaster. Naturally, an umbrella is designed to keep the individual using it dry and protected from the elements. The fact that the rain is falling not from the sky but instead from the inside of the umbrella is Banksy’s way of suggesting to the viewer that very things (or institutions) that were created and designed to protect us can, at times, do quite the opposite – a scathing indictment of FEMA and the government’s response to protect and help the people directly affected by Hurricane Katrina.

RELEASE HISTORY


Nola was released in late 2008 as a limited edition of 289 prints with White Rain. The edition size of 289 relates to the age of the city of New Orleans where this visual first appeared. During the initial on sale – they experienced technical difficulties whereby Pictures on Walls accidentally oversold the edition – leaving them with not enough prints to fill the orders they accepted. Shortly after the mishap, they created a Grey Rain edition of 63 prints, and offered the right of first refusal to those customers who didn’t get a White Rain edition due to the oversell.
Nola (Grey Rain), 2008
Edition: 63 signed
Two colorways have appeared since the print was originally released: 32 in Orange Rain and 31 in Yellow Rain, neither of which were offered to the public for sale.
Banksy also released a rare set of Nola Artist’s Proof editions of 66 that came in 6 unique variations of Multicolor Rain, reserved for VIP collectors. All Nola prints are signed and numbered by the artist.


DESCRIPTION

Nola

Year: 2008
Medium: Screen-print in colors on Arches wove paper
Size: 76×56 cm (30×22 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Nola (White Rain): 289 signed
Nola (Grey Rain): 63 signed
Nola (Orange Rain): 32 signed
Nola (Yellow Rain): 31 signed
Artist’s Proofs Editions
Nola (Multicolor Rain): 66 signed AP
6 different colorways of various multicolor rain

Numbering and Signature

Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered in pencil, with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left

COLORWAYS

 

Nola (Orange Rain)

Nola (Orange Rain), 2008
Edition: 32 signed

Nola (Yellow Rain)

Nola (Yellow Rain), 2008
Edition: 31 signed

Nola (Multicolor Rain AP)

Nola (Green to Blue Rain), 2008
From the AP Edition of 66 signed prints

Nola (Green to Burgundy Rain), 2008
From the AP Edition of 66 signed prints

Nola (Pink to Yellow Rain), 2008
From the AP Edition of 66 signed prints

Nola (Green Rain), 2008
From the AP Edition of 66 signed prints

AUCTION STATISTICS

Updated as of 30 June 2022

2022 Auction Statistics


2021 Auction Statistics

 

1. Nola (White Rain)

 

 

 

Nola (White Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 94/289 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Sotheby’s London, 30 June 2022
GBP 88,200 / USD 108,486

 

Nola (White Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered /289 in pencil, lower left
Forum Auctions, 3 February 2022
GBP 116,580 / USD 159,715

 

Nola (White Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 238/289 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Heritage Auctions, 22 April 2021

GBP 116,906 / USD 162,500

Nola (White Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 54/289 in pencil with the publisher’s blindstamp, lower left
Christie’s online, 1 April 2021
GBP 150,000 / USD 207,000
 

2. Nola (Grey Rain)


Nola (Grey Rain) is the second largest edition of Nola Prints, with 63 signed prints.

It only sold 5 times at auction since 2008, including once so far in 2022, and twice in 2021.

A print aside the edition of 63 sold at Sotheby’s online on 26 April 2022 for GBP 88,200 (USD 111,132).
It sold at Sotheby’s Milan on 15 December 2021 for GBP 99,827 (USD 134,766).
It also sold at Forum Auctions on 5 March 2021 for GBP 174,200 (USD 242,138).

Nola (Grey Rain), 2008
Aside from the numbered edition of 63
Signed in pencil, lower right
Inscribed ‘M’ with a heart and peace symbol, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
EUR 88,200 / USD 111,132

 

Nola (Grey Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 48/63 in pencil, lower left
Sotheby’s Milan, 15 December 2021
EUR 119,700 / USD 134,766

 

3. Nola (Orange Rain)


Nola (Orange Rain) was released in 2008 as an edition of 32 signed prints.

Nola (Orange Rain), a print aside from the numbered edition, sold at Sotheby’s online on 26 April 2022 for GBP 189,000 (USD 238,140). A print from the numbered edition last sold at Tate Ward Auctions on 7 December 2021 for GBP 237,500 (USD 318,250). It only sold twice at auction, last time was in 2016.

 

Nola (Orange Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Inscribed ‘Thanks Josie ❤X’ in pencil, lower left
Aside from the numbered edition of 32
Sotheby’s online, 26 April 2022
GBP 189,000 / USD 238,140

Nola (Orange Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 12/32 in pencil, lower left
Tate Ward Auction, 7 December 2021
GBP 237,500 / USD 318,250

 

4. Nola (Yellow Rain)

Nola (Yellow Rain) was released in 2008 as an edition of 31 signed prints.

Nola (Yellow Rain), a print aside from the edition, sold at Christie’s online for the highest price ever paid at auction for a Nola at GBP 375,000 (USD 517,500) on 1 April 2021. A print from the main edition of 31 sold at Tate ward Auctions on 7 December 2021 for GBP 216,000 (USD 289,440).

Nola (Yellow Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 23/31 in pencil, lower left
Tate Ward Auction, 7 December 2021
GBP 216,000 / USD 289,440

Nola (Yellow Rain), 2008
Signed in pink crayon, lower right
Inscribed and dedicated in pink crayon, lower left
Christie’s online, 1 April 2021

GBP 375,000 / USD 517,500

Nola (Yellow Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered 30/31 in pencil, lower left
Sotheby’s online, 19 September 2020

GBP 226,800 / USD 294,840

5. Nola (Multicolor Rain AP)

 

Only 5 Nola Prints from this very rare edition of 66 signed APs in varying colorways of multi-color rain sold at auction since 2008.

Nola (Green Rain AP) sold at Sotheby’s London on 30 June 2022 for GBP 163,800 (USD 201,474).
Nola (Blue to Green Rain AP) sold at Christie’s London on 2 July 2021 for GBP 218,750 (USD 303,000).

 

Nola (Green Rain AP), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Inscribed AP/05 in pencil, lower left
One of 66 Artist’s Proofs printed in various colorways
Sotheby’s London, 30 June 2022
GBP 163,800 / USD 201,474

 

Nola (Blue to Green Rain), 2008
Signed in pencil, lower right
Numbered AP/26 in pencil, lower left
Christie’s London, 2 July 2021
GBP 218,750 / USD 303,000
Nola (Blue and Green Rain), 2004
Signed in blue crayon, lower right
Inscribed and numbered AP/01 in blue crayon, lower left
Bonhams London, 18 December 2017
GBP 75,000 / USD 101, 293
Nola (Pink and Yellow Rain), 2004
Signed in pink crayon, lower right
Inscribed with a peace symbol and a heart in pink crayon, lower left
Christie’s London, 18 September 2017
GBP 90,000

Gallery

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