Series · Banksy
HMV
Released as a screenprint edition in 2003, HMV is one of Banksy’s most recognisable appropriations of popular culture. The image reworks the famous His Master’s Voice logo, replacing the obedient dog traditionally shown listening to a gramophone with a version armed with a rocket launcher and seemingly prepared to destroy it.
The intervention is simple but effective. By turning one of the most familiar advertising images of the twentieth century against itself, Banksy transforms a symbol of loyalty and obedience into one of rebellion and resistance. The work retains the immediate recognisability of the original logo while completely altering its meaning.
More than two decades after its release, HMV remains one of the defining works from Banksy’s early print catalogue. Its combination of humour, cultural commentary and instantly recognisable imagery has helped establish it as one of the artist’s most enduring editions.
About The Series
The image is based on His Master’s Voice, the famous trademark created by English artist Francis Barraud in 1899. The original artwork depicts a dog named Nipper listening attentively to a gramophone and later became synonymous with the HMV music brand.
Banksy’s version first appeared on the streets of Bristol before evolving into one of the artist’s best-known early motifs. In 2003, he painted a large-scale version at Cargo nightclub in Shoreditch, London, where it remains protected behind perspex today. Situated in one of London’s most celebrated street art districts, the mural helped establish HMV as a landmark work from Banksy’s early career.
By replacing obedience with confrontation, Banksy transforms a familiar commercial image into something far more provocative. The result is a work that sits comfortably alongside other early appropriations such as Pulp Fiction and Napalm, where widely recognised cultural references are reworked to create entirely new meanings.
Editions And Variations
HMV was released in 2003 as an edition of 150 signed screenprints and 600 unsigned screenprints.
Unlike many later Banksy editions, the series is not defined by multiple colourways or extensive variations. Instead, its appeal lies in the strength of the image itself and its significance within the artist’s early print catalogue.
Collectors may occasionally encounter Artist’s Proofs and other rarer examples, although the standard signed and unsigned editions remain the most commonly traded works. As with all Banksy editions, provenance, condition and Pest Control authentication remain important considerations when evaluating individual examples.
Collecting HMV
HMV occupies an important place within Banksy’s early print catalogue. Released during a formative period in the artist’s career, it demonstrates the visual wit and cultural appropriation that would later become defining characteristics of his work.
Collectors are often drawn to the series because the image is immediately recognisable, even to those with little knowledge of Banksy’s wider catalogue. At the same time, its roots in both street art and popular culture give it a broader appeal than many contemporary print editions.
More than twenty years after its release, HMV remains one of Banksy’s most distinctive early works and a popular choice among collectors seeking iconic examples from the artist’s formative years.
Notable Auction Results
Signed examples of HMV continue to perform strongly at auction, particularly those with excellent provenance and condition.
Explore Available HMV Prints
Optima Contemporary advises collectors seeking to buy or sell works from Banksy’s HMV series. Contact our team for guidance on availability and market positioning.
