Banksy street mural 'Slave Labour' heading for auction... again?

By David Ng

May 13, 2013 12 AM PT

“Slave Labour,” a small outdoor mural attributed to the British artist known as Banksy, has had a strange and contested history even by street-art standards.

In February, the piece went missing from the wall in London where it was created in 2012, only to later resurface at an auction in Miami. The sale eventually was called off after questions arose over the legitimacy of the piece’s removal.

Now it appears that the mural is heading back to the auction block. The piece is scheduled to go on sale June 2 at the London Film Museum in a private sale organized by the Sincura Group, a British company that provides services for wealthy clientele.

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The company said in a press release that “Slave Labour” has been “sensitively restored under a cloak of secrecy.” News of the sale was first reported by the Associated Press.

“Slave Labour” depicts a boy sewing a bunting comprised of Union Jacks. The mural was created in the Wood Green area of north London.

The June 2 sale will include other pieces by Banksy, Damien Hirst, Andy Warhol, Mario Testino, Russell Young and others. The Sincura Group said in its release that it wasn’t involved with the removal of the “Slave Labour” mural from its original location.

When the piece was being offered for sale by Fine Art Auctions Miami, it had been expected to bring in close to $500,000.

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