Banksy
BANKSY "WELCOME MAT" 2019
Banksy (b. 1974) is a pseudonymous street-artist and political activist whose real name and identity remain the subject of speculation.
"Welcome Mat" is a sculptural/ephemera work created as part of Banksy's Gross Domestic Product™ project–a collection of deliberately ironic products designed to critique consumer culture, authorship, and the commercialization of politically-engaged art (Gross Domestic Product™...where art irritates life). The mat is crafted from pieces of salvaged life vests found on Mediterranean beaches, which were once worn by refugees attempting perilous sea crossings.Â
Materials that once symbolized protection now lie flattened into a domestic object, literally turning the language of hospitality back on the viewer while evoking the harsh reality of forced migration. To create this edition, Banksy collaborated with Love Welcomes, an organization who works with women in detainment camps in Greece. They helped fabricate the mats by hand, and proceeds were donated to local refugee services.
While superficially resembling a benign household item, "Welcome Mat" continues Banksy’s long‑standing engagement with political and social critique through irony, compassion, and unexpected materials. In typical fashion, he subverts a familiar symbol (the doormat’s call to hospitality) to raise awareness of global injustice and human displacement.
Questions about this piece? Contact us, call +1.416.704.1720, or visit our Toronto Gallery.
"Welcome Mat"
2019
From Gross Domestic Product™ collection
Numbered Tag, verso (Item no. #2826)
Mixed media: hand-stitched mat with salvaged fabric
Produced in collaboration with Love Welcomes
16"H 27.25"W 1.5"D (work)
Very good condition
Includes original packaging
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