Bomb Love
aka Bomb Hugger

Medium: Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Year: 2003
Sheet: 70×50 cm (27 1/2 x 19 5/8 inches)
Editions: 150 signed, 600 unsigned
Artist’s Proofs: 44 signed AP
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

“It takes a lot of guts to stand up anonymously in a western democracy
and call for things no one else believes in like peace and justice and freedom.”

Bomb Love, also known as Bomb Hugger, portrays a young girl hugging a bomb as if it were a cuddly toy. This striking stencil contrasts the innocence and purity of the smiling girl with the violence and destruction bombs create.
This image also provokes anxiety as this deadly weapon she is holding might explode at any minute. This work illustrates modern society’s affection for warfare, encouraging large corporations to manufacture and sell bombs by the millions as if they were toys. Bomb Love is also a clear salute to the power of love, that can prevail over war and violence – perhaps this little girl could disarm a bomb through her loving embrace.
Bomb Hugger, Bristol, 1998

 

This young girl shows no fear; in fact, her face and smile clearly demonstrate she is very comfortable hugging the bomb. Bomb Love highlights our society’s indifference and numbness to warfare, as countless bombs and weapons are manufactured every day and either stored or sold to oppressive regimes – often under the pretense that weapons are necessary to maintain peace in the world. It also highlights the trivialization of warfare, presented as a harmless game without any consequence, just like playing with a toy.

Banksy realized a few originals based on this iconic stencil. It was first shown at Existencilism, Banksy’s first exhibit in Los Angeles in 2002.

Bomb Hugger, 2002
Acrylic and spray enamel on canvas
30.5×30.5 cm (12×12 inches)

Read More about Bomb Love
Find All Auction Results

 


 Auction Results


1. Bomb Love (unsigned)

Bomb Love (unsigned) sold 8 times at auction in 2023 for a total turnover of GBP 164,876 (USD 203,959) at an average price of GBP 20,609 (USD 25,495).

Bonhams online: 20 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 12,800 / USD 16,233

BANKSY (born 1974)
Bomb Love (Bomb Hugger) (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in colors
Numbered 403/600 in pencil

Forum Auctions: 30 January 2024
Estimated: GBP 13,000 – 18,000
GBP 12,000 / USD 15,218 (HAMMER)
GBP 16,080 / USD 20,393

BANKSY (b.1974)
Bomb Love (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered from the edition of 600 in pencil

Christie’s online: 28 September 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 16,380 / USD 20,017

BANKSY
Bomb Hugger (Bomb Love), 2003
Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Numbered 386/600 in pencil (there was also a signed edition of 150)

Forum Auctions: 30 August 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 20,000
HAMMER GBP 13,200
GBP 17,688 / USD 22,503

BANKSY
Bomb Love (unsigned), 2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered in pencil from the edition of 600

Tate Ward Auctions: 7 June 2023
Estimated: GBP 18,000 – 22,000
GBP 18,750 / USD 23,341

BANKSY
Bomb Love (unsigned)
, 2003
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered 141/600 in pencil lower right

Bonhams New-York: 9 May 2023
Estimated: USD 20,000 – 30,000
USD 20,400

BANKSY
Bomb Love (unsigned)
, 2003
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered 549/600 DN in pencil, lower right

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 15,000 – 25,000
GBP 18,900 / USD 23,247

BANKSY
Bomb Love (unsigned)
, 2003-2004
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered 452/600 in pencil, lower right

Bomb Love (unsigned) sold 10 times at auction in 2022 for a total turnover of GBP 361,487 (USD 456,489) at an average price of GBP 36,149 (USD 45,649). It reached its highest price at SBI Art Auction in Japan on 16 April 2022 when it sold for USD 100,135.

Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 44,453

BANKSY
Bomb Love (unsigned)
, 2003
Screenprint in pink and black on wove paper
Numbered 346/600 in pencil, lower right
Christie’s online: 15 March 2022
Estimated: GBP 20,000 – 30,000
GBP 35,280 / USD 46,570
Bomb Love (unsigned), 2003
Numbered 392/600 in pencil, lower right

2. Bomb Love (signed)

Bomb Love (signed) only sold once at auction in 2023. It did not sell at auction in 2022.

Christie’s Online: 14 March 2023
Estimated: GBP 50,000 – 70,000
GBP 63,000 / USD 77,490

BANKSY
Bomb Hugger (Bomb Love)
, 2003-2004
Screen-print in colors on wove paper
Signed and dated 03 in black ink, lower right
Numbered 47/150 in pencil, lower right