Banksy Art Fails to Impress in LA

Several works fail to sell at auction

Graffiti artist Banksy suffered an embarrassing evening Monday as a number of his greatest works failed to sell at a prestigious Los Angeles auction house. While his aerosol-powered contemporaries enjoyed strong sales at British auctioneers Bonham's on Sunset Blvd, Banksy's spray-painted rats received few nibbles from buyers in Hollywood. Four of the artist's most famous works remain unsold.

"It's obviously disappointing when pieces don't sell," explains Bonham's urban art specialist, Gareth Williams. "I was surprised that the Gangsta Rat piece did not find a buyer," he admits, speaking of the iconic work chosen for the auction catalogue's front cover.