A Banksy painting of a young boy playing with a superhero nurse doll has raised more than £16m for an NHS charity after it was sold at auction.
‘Game Changer’ was painted by the anonymous graffiti artist as a thank you to the NHS during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic and was given to Southampton General Hospital in May last year.
The artwork was delivered to the hospital with a note, which said: "Thanks for all you're doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if it's only black and white."
The painting was hung in a corridor in the hospital to provide staff with a daily morale boost. The original was replaced by a reproduction of the painting, that will remain on display at the hospital, to allow the original to be sold.
The artwork was auctioned with an estimate of £2.5m-£3.5m but was sold for £14.4, a record for a Banksy, with the figure rising to £16.7m including fees.
Auctioneers Christie’s said the proceeds of the sale would be going to Southampton Hospitals Charity, and added that it would be donating a ‘significant portion’ of its fees as well.
“This incredible gift will be invaluable in helping us to focus on promoting and protecting the welfare of our staff as they heal and recover from the last year,” David French, interim chief executive officer of University Hospital Southampton Trust, told the Guardian.
“As a charitable gift it ensures our staff have a say in how money is spent to benefit them, our patients and our community and is a fantastic way to thank and reward them for the sacrifices they’ve made.”