Today's new Banksy post has been unveiled, and this time around it's a Nazi soldier painted into another oil painting. He wrote: "A thrift store painting vandalised then re-donated to the thrift store." That thrift store is Housing Works on East 23rd Street... and we're guessing a lot of people are headed there to try to buy it right now. He calls the piece: "The banality of the banality of evil."
There are only TWO MORE DAYS of the elusive street artist's open-air art show that has taken over the streets all month.
UPDATE, 3:35 p.m.: We called this Housing Works and were told the painting will be going up for auction. They aren't sure what the starting price will be as of now. The woman we spoke to told us it was dropped off earlier today, but she didn't see who dropped it off. The manager Rob says the painting sold two months ago for about $50... "it just reappeared. It's been there since this morning, no one noticed it."
For those who don't know, Housing Works is a great organization with a mission "to end the dual crises of homelessness and AIDS through relentless advocacy, the provision of lifesaving services, and entrepreneurial businesses that sustain our efforts."
UPDATE, 4 p.m.: Beatrice, another manager, tells us it will be in the store for two weeks before going to auction. It was given to them by an "anonymous donor" they say. We are told they received confirmation early this morning and it seems like they got a suggestion to hang it in that spot, as well. They promise to send out more information and details in a press release soon. So today's late drop was likely so that something could hang in plain view all day—but supposedly no one noticed or commented on it.
UPDATE, 4:15 p.m.: According to an email we just received from Housing Works, "The piece will go up for auction to benefit Housing Works at Bidding for Good this evening starting at $74,000. The exact time is undetermined. It will only run for 2 day through October 31st."
The painting is originally by K. Sager, and below his signature on the painting is Banksy's.
Additional reporting by Scott Lynch and Nic Garcia