Three works by her artist street art Banksy were seized by police as part of an investigation in south-east Wales. Police in Gwent seized a sculpture, a satirical portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom and another work by the artist.

The sculpture, titled ‘Grappling Hook’ was created by Banksy in 2017 for a politically themed exhibition at The Walled Off Hotel in Bethlehem. The acrylic and shellac on wood artwork depicts a figure of Jesus on a cross which is also a military hook.

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In September 2019, Sotheby’s sold a signed version of the sculpture and an original cardboard box for $130,264.

Monkey Queen is a series of color posters by Banksy created in 2003. At least seven editions of the poster were sold by Sotheby’s from $19,215 to $64,674 in several different auctions from September 2019 to April 2022.

According to a report by the Evening Standard, court documents said Welsh authorities also seized Banksy’s “White Tower” work, worth $2,085. The works of art were seized in March 2021 as part of a criminal investigation against a 35-year-old man.

When asked by the newspaper, the Gwent police could not give details about the seizure of the works of art.

The questions “where are the projects” and “what will happen in the future” were not answered, the publication states. Police have only clarified that they cannot comment if criminal charges are pending and that an order to keep Banksy’s works under police supervision was granted by Newport Crown Court in September last year. The decision is expected to be reviewed at the end of the month.