Colston Four member auctions off signed Banksy t-shirt for £12,000

‘This isn’t just a shirt, this is a piece of history’
Sophie Wills
By Sophie Wills
Published 1st Jun 2022, 10:07 BST
Updated 1st Jun 2022, 12:02 BST
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A t-shirt signed by anonymous street artist Banksy and given personally to one of the ‘Colston Four’ has raised £12,000 at auction.

The Bristol-born street artist released a limited number of t-shirts in support of the group accused of wrecking the Edward Colston statue.

Jay Goodman-Browne of East Bristol Auctions with the T-shirt which sold for £12,000 at auction.Jay Goodman-Browne of East Bristol Auctions with the T-shirt which sold for £12,000 at auction.
Jay Goodman-Browne of East Bristol Auctions with the T-shirt which sold for £12,000 at auction.
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They were designed to show solidarity with the group accused then later cleared of pulling down the effigy in 2020.

They were available for £25 from limited locations across Bristol and saw people queuing for hours to buy one.

But Banksy also made four unique T-shirts just for the ‘Colston Four’ - Sage Willoughby, Rhian Graham, Milo Ponsford and Jake Skuse.

The t-shirts were designed to show solidarity with the Colston Four who were accused then later cleared of pulling down the Colston Statue in 2020. The t-shirts were designed to show solidarity with the Colston Four who were accused then later cleared of pulling down the Colston Statue in 2020.
The t-shirts were designed to show solidarity with the Colston Four who were accused then later cleared of pulling down the Colston Statue in 2020.

The t-shirts are different as the colours were reversed and are signed by Banky himself.

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‘The Four’ gathered in a secret location in Bristol during the trial and were actually presented the shirts by the elusive artist personally.

Now one unnamed member of ‘The Colston Four’ has sold their shirt at East Bristol Auctions for 12K.

Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford, and Rhian Graham - the Colston Four’ - stand outside Bristol Crown Court after being found not guilty of the criminal damage of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston. Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford, and Rhian Graham - the Colston Four’ - stand outside Bristol Crown Court after being found not guilty of the criminal damage of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston.
Sage Willoughby, Jake Skuse, Milo Ponsford, and Rhian Graham - the Colston Four’ - stand outside Bristol Crown Court after being found not guilty of the criminal damage of the statue of slave trader Edward Colston.

Spokesman Jay Goodman-Browne said: “The toppling of the Edward Colston statue is now regarded by some as one of the defining events of the last decade.

“This shirt - one of only four made - encapsulates that event.

“If Bristol is famous for two things, it’s the toppling of the statue and Banksy, and here we have an item that links the two.

“This isn’t just a shirt, this is a piece of history.’’

Related topics:BanksyHistoryBristol

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