A section of a Brooklyn wall featuring a Banksy artwork, which depicts a bandaged, heart-shaped balloon, is set for auction after being stored for over a decade. The piece became the center of a graffiti battle shortly after its creation in 2013, with multiple taggers adding their own marks and phrases around the original design. Maria Georgiadis, whose family owned the now-demolished warehouse where the artwork was painted, plans to donate part of the auction proceeds to the American Heart Association in memory of her late father. Art experts are divided on whether the additional graffiti was Banksy's own work, with some questioning the style and intent behind the added phrases. The sale raises questions about the preservation and commercialization of street art, as Banksy's pieces are typically site-specific and not meant for resale.

The Banksy artwork, painted in 2013 on a Brooklyn warehouse wall, features a heart-shaped balloon with a Band-Aid, turning the building into an art destination and sparking a graffiti battle with other taggers adding their own marks around it.

The graffiti battle included anonymous additions such as 'Omar NYC' and phrases like 'is a little girl', leading to speculation that Banksy might have returned to discreetly add a rejoinder, though this remains unconfirmed.

Maria Georgiadis, whose family owned the building, views the artwork as symbolic of her father's love and resilience, and plans to donate part of the auction proceeds to the American Heart Association in honor of her father, who passed away from a heart attack.

Art historian Ulrich Blanché questions the authenticity of the additional graffiti, suggesting it doesn't align with Banksy's style, and emphasizes that Banksy's works are intended for specific locations and not meant to be sold.

The upcoming sale of the nearly 4-ton wall section at Guernsey's auction house highlights the challenges faced by property owners in preserving Banksy's street art, as well as the ethical considerations surrounding its commercialization.

The warehouse, adorned with the Banksy piece, was previously part of the Georgiadis family's roofing and asbestos abatement business, which had been recovering from Hurricane Sandy, adding personal significance to the artwork for the family.

Banksy's original intent with the piece may have been to draw people to less-visited areas of New York City, such as Red Hook, where the artwork was placed, though the artist's spokespersons have not commented on the upcoming sale.