L.A 'street art' auction featuring Banksy's Police Van Chimp and Crazy Horse nets nearly $1million

A 'street art' auction in Los Angeles raked in almost $1 million after bidders splurged on some of Banksy's most famous pieces. 

Hosted by Julien's Auctions, the event featured 20 iconic pieces by street artists - including Banksy, Invader and RETNA. 

Thursday's auction took place in front of a live audience in Los Angeles, but hundreds of bidders and collectors from around the world participated online. 

The grand total came close to a whopping $900,000 - with most pieces doubling the estimate of the predicted bids.

Banksy's 'Police Van Chimp' London Turf War Exhibition stencil painting sold for $222,250 - double its original estimate and the highest price of the night. 

A 'street art' auction in Los Angeles raked in almost $1 million after bidders splurged on some of Banksy 's most famous pieces

Hosted by Julien's Auctions , the event featured 20 iconic pieces by street artists - including Banksy, Invader and RETNA

Pictured: Banksy's 'Police Van Chimp' London Turf War Exhibition stencil painting, which sold for $222,250 as Thursday's auction 

Pictured: Banksy's 'Gangsta Rat - Live' Liverpool stencil painting, which sold for $190,500 at Julien's Auction in Los Angeles 

Pictured: Banksy's 'Mayfair Paparazzi Rat' London stencil painting which sold for $142,875 at Julien's Auction on Thursday 

Thursday's auction took place in front of a live audience in Los Angeles, but hundreds of bidders and collectors from around the world participated online

This piece is an original aerosol painting on glass which was part of Banksy's breakthrough 2003 'Turf War' exhibition that was staged in an abandoned London warehouse. 

The next most expensive was another of Banksy's infamous pieces - 'Gangsta Rat Live', a Liverpool stencil painting which sold for over double its original estimate at $190,500.

'Gangsta Rat Live' is an original aerosol on metal door that was executed on a British Telecom street box in Liverpool, England, circa 2004.

Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist, political activist and film director whose identity was unmasked in 2008, but remains the subject of speculation. 

Banksy's 'Crazy Horse' New York City stencil painting sold for $162,500 and his 'Mayfair Paparazzi Rat' London stencil painting sold for $142,875, which was over three times the original estimate. 

The next highest sellers were five of Invader's most famous international mosaics - which each brought in over $19,000. 

The grand total came close to a whopping $900,000 - with most pieces doubling the estimate of the predicted bids

Pictured: Banksy's 'Crazy Horse' New York City stencil painting, which sold for $162,500 at Thursday's auction

Pictured: Invader's original 'PA-605' Paris mosaic, which sold for $25,400 at the auction on Thursday night 

Pictured: Invader's original 'PA5955' Paris mosaic, which sold for $19,500 at the auction on Thursday night

The identity of Banksy was one of the most closely guarded secrets in the world until his name was revealed in 2008 - but that hasn't stopped people from speculating

One of the pieces was Invader's original 'POTI-50',  which was installed in 2022 in Potosí, Bolivia, a town 4,000 meters above sea level in celebration of his 4,000th mosaic. It sold for $29,250 after being estimated at a mere $6,000.

The identity of Banksy was one of the most closely guarded secrets in the world until his name was revealed in 2008 - but that hasn't stopped people from speculating.

The street artist, whose career began in the 90s, is known by millions of people thanks to the appearance of dozens of iconic artworks in unexpected locations around the world, with many having gone on to sell for millions.

For years his identity has been a hot topic, with names such as Massive Attack's Robert Del Naja and Gorillaz founder Jamie Hewlett being floated around.

Public schoolboy Robin Gunningham was unmasked as Banksy by the Mail On Sunday in 2008 after an investigation into his past.

Regardless of who he his, Banksy's works are hot property on the art market.

In 2021, his 'Love is in the Bin' work was bought for more than £18million (around $23,000) with its value having been boosted after a shredder hidden in its frame cut it to pieces moments after it was sold for the first time in 2018.

The work, previously known as 'Girl with Balloon', was just one of more than a dozen of Banksy's creations that have sold for more than £2million ($2.5million).