Banksy Mural Unveiled in New York After Ten Years in Storage

A Heart of Brick: The Fascinating Saga of Banksy’s Red Hook Mural

In October 2013, an unassuming act of generosity in Brooklyn’s Red Hook neighborhood sparked a saga that would intertwine anonymous street art, viral notoriety, and the heartwarming memory of a beloved family patriarch. The resulting piece — a massive, heart-shaped balloon rendered in Banksy’s unmistakable style — is now poised to capture the spotlight again as it heads to auction after more than a decade in storage.

This is the story of “Battle to Survive a Broken Heart,” a Banksy mural with a tale as dramatic and layered as the urban wall it once adorned.

The Accidental Genesis of a Street Art Landmark

The unlikely sequence began one autumn evening when Vassilios Georgiadis, owner of an asbestos and lead abatement warehouse, noticed a van idling suspiciously near the corner of King Street and Van Brunt. Concerned that it might get clipped by a turning truck, he offered the driver a safer spot in his driveway.

That driver, the Georgiadis family later surmised, was none other than Banksy — the elusive and world-renowned street artist whose identity continues to remain a mystery. The very next night, a new artwork appeared on the warehouse wall: a red, heart-shaped balloon with faux Band-Aids plastered over it, hanging by a wilted black string. Titled “Battle to Survive a Broken Heart,” this signature Banksy creation quickly drew scores of onlookers and media attention.

“A mess on that corner,” recalled Anastasios Georgiadis, Vassilios’s son, of the frenzy the artwork unleashed.

Ambiguity, Altercation, and Additions

Street art rarely lives a sheltered life.

Shortly after it appeared, the mural was defaced by graffiti artist OMAR NYC, who tagged his name next to the balloon. In an uncommon re-entry, Banksy — or, at least, someone believed to be Banksy — returned to the wall to add a biting rebuttal: the words “is a jealous little girl” penned next to the rival’s name.

This active engagement turned the mural into one of the rare Banksy works that the artist (possibly) revisited, transforming it into more than just a static piece of graffiti. It became part of an unfolding public dialogue — visual, territorial, and deeply human.

Extraction, Preservation, and Loss

Recognizing the cultural and potential monetary value of the work, the Georgiadis family decided to preserve it. In 2014, they carefully extracted the six-by-nine foot, 7,500-pound wall and placed it in storage. The Red Hook warehouse was eventually sold and demolished. Four years ago, Vassilios passed away from a heart attack, adding another emotional layer to the mural’s meaning for the family.

“The fact that Banksy created this heart-shaped balloon, complete with bandages, was almost a vision of, unfortunately, what was to come,” said Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey’s auction house, reflecting on the symbolism of wounds and healing that the mural so poignantly captures.

Public Exhibition and Auction

Now, for the first time in over a decade, the public can view the piece again. Displayed at Manhattan’s Brookfield Place — among luxury retailers and posh boutiques — the wall stands in stark contrast to its opulent surroundings. Visitors pass by its protective plexiglass casing, many unknowing of its origin, others stopping in awe.

Cary and Elisa Speigel, New York locals, were among the passersby intrigued by the encapsulated brick slab. “What’s so special that they had to cut out an entire section of wall?” Cary, an architect, wondered aloud.

While the art’s visibility was diminished by reflections of sunlight on the plexiglass, its power remained intact — especially for some. A woman named Peggy told Hyperallergic that the patched-up heart spoke to her on a personal level. A former sex worker, she saw in the piece a mirror of herself: wounded but persevering.

“He’s trying to say something,” she said of Banksy. “He’s not just doing art for nonsense.”

A Legacy on the Auction Block

The Georgiadis family has decided to auction the piece through Guernsey’s, with the event scheduled for May 21 at Brookfield Place. Their motivation? Closure, legacy, and giving back. A portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to the American Heart Association in honor of Vassilios. The family pledges to give 10% if the sale brings under $1 million, and 40% if it exceeds that threshold.

“Being that he always gave to the community, we wanted to give something back ourselves,” Anastasios explained.

Sizing Up the Value

While speculative estimates vary, Ettinger notes the unique qualities of the piece. “Our research indicates this is the