blink-182’s Mark Hoppus is auctioning off a rare Banksy painting for up to £5million

Exciting news if you’ve got a spare few million lying around: Mark Hoppus is selling an incredibly special Banksy painting.

The blink-182 bassist is set to part ways with the rare, hand-painted Crude Oil (Vettriano), with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and their Child Life Program, Cedars Sinai Haematology Oncology Research, and The California Fire Foundation.

Crude Oil (Vettriano) has an estimated worth of between £3-5million, and will go on sale on March 4 via Sotheby’s Modern & Contemporary Evening Auction. Before that, an exhibition has opened to the public at Sotheby’s New York today (February 18) until February 20, and will then head to London between February 26 and the on-sale date.

“We loved this painting since the moment we saw it,” says Mark, who acquired Crude Oil with his wife Skye in 2011. “Unmistakably Banksy, but different. We bought it because we loved it.

“It’s borne witness to our family over these past dozen years. It hung over the table in London where we ate breakfast and our son did his homework. It hung in our living room in Los Angeles. It’s seen laughter and tears and parties and arguments. Our son has grown up in front of it.

“This painting has meant so much to us and been such an amazing part of our lives, and now I’m excited for it to be out there in the world, seen by as many as possible. Go get ’em. Godspeed.”

“This isn’t just an iconic Banksy, it is a Banksy that has been treasured by music legend, Mark Hoppus, who fell for this work for its rebellious spirit, raw edge and unfiltered expression – the fundamentals that also shaped Mark's world: punk culture,” adds European Sotheby’s chairman Oliver Barker. “Street art and punk rock share the same vocabulary – they speak to the outsider, the rebel and the overlooked. Both movements were born from the margins. They challenge authority and re-write the rules, a fundamental trait shared by Mark and Banksy.

“Now, by sharing Crude Oil (Vettriano) with the world, Mark will open others’ eyes to the true power art can have; to spark conversation and challenge the way we see the world around us.”

In other news, Mark was recently recording for the audio version of his forthcoming Fahrenheit-182 memoir, so stay tuned for more on that.

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