A painting by street artist Banksy that pays tribute to healthcare workers is set to raise more than £2.5million for the NHS at auction.
'Game Changer' depicts a young boy having binned his Batman and Spiderman toys and playing instead with a doll of a masked nurse.
It appeared at Southampton Hospital last May during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with a note saying: "Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it’s only black and white."
Banksy is now selling the original canvas at Christie's in London, which has provided a pre-sale estimate of £2.5-£3.5m.
The reproduction of the painting will remain in Southampton.
Christie’s said the image “offers an image of hope” and represents a “personal tribute to those who continue to turn the tide of the pandemic.”
Its co-head of post-war and contemporary art, Katharine Arnold, said: “'Game Changer' is a universal tribute to all those fighting worldwide on the front line of this crisis.
“At a time when we can dare to hope once more, and look at life beyond the pandemic, it is important to reflect on the many symbols of strength and hope we have seen internationally since the beginning of 2020.
“Banksy’s Game Changer was a beacon of light for the staff and patients at Southampton General Hospital and it was the artist’s wish to then auction it with proceeds benefiting the NHS.
“The work pays tribute to the strength and resilience of those who have demonstrated true leadership throughout the pandemic, the staff of our vital NHS.”
The painting will go to auction on Tuesday 23 March as part of Christie's '20th Century Art Evening Sale'.
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