Banksy’s former agent Steve Lazarides has set up an online store, called Laz Emporium, to sell artworks and trinkets from his personal collection. The site was launched this week with limited-edition artworks by various artists, including some from Banksy and Lazarides himself, going up for sale. He is also selling prints and books, including Banksy Captured, a 250-page photo book of Banksy in action during his early days. The second volume is also up with Banksy’s iconic works during the ‘90s and 2000s. AdvertisementAdvertisement The shop also features Di-Faced Tenner, Banksy’s fake Princess Diana banknote, as well as other Banksy-related tokens like postcards and posters, which Lazarides described as “objects d’anarchy.”
Steve LazaridesIt’s been awhile and contrary to popular opinion I’m neither dead, nor incarcerated. In fact, people, for once I’ve used my time productively. I’ve combined all my passions to create Laz Emporium (well, not quite all of my passions as I don’t want to land up dead or incarcerated). Laz Emporium is very much a reflection of myself. Mad, left-field and difficult to define. An emporium is ‘a store carrying many different kinds of merchandise’ – an eclectic and intriguing range of stock. My collection is the product of my bipolar mind, always leaping from one area of fascination to another. So ‘emporium’ made for a more fitting description than ‘gallery’ (been there, done that) or something trendy, which I could never countenance, like ‘marketplace’. At the Emporium we’re creating new pieces, made by ourselves in the new Laz Studio out in the Wild West Country. These will be on sale next to objects d’anarchy from my own archive. I can’t hide it anymore, I simply aspire to be Ian McShane’s roguish, 80s TV antiques dealer Lovejoy. And it feels like I’ve finally settled on a project that encompasses all my interests. Something that doesn’t just involve art, but also photography, design, furniture, publishing and anything else that floats my boat. I’ll be picking up weird and wonderful esoteric clutter on this journey to sell here as well. Moreover, I’ll make new work with creatives of this world who can’t be pigeonholed. But whatever it is, it’ll always have a subcultural element to its character. It all certainly beats selling art in tents. The real life Laz Emporium, that you can visit by appointment, will be open imminently. I’ll be behind the till. Until then, browse at your leisure. We launch the site with Banksy Captured Volume Two, which is a 300-page hardback of photos taken during my time as his manager (all different from Volume One). This is just the start and I can’t wait to get cracking for real.
