Toxic Mary

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2003 Screen print on paper

Edition of 150 signed - 600 unsigned

50cm x 70cm

An early work that first appeared at the now iconic Turf War exhibition in 2003. Toxic Mary, one of Banky's most outwardly religious pieces, was subsequently created as a limited-edition series of prints in the same year by Pictures on Walls - released as an edition of 150 signed prints, 600 unsigned and 44 colour APs.

Deeply powerful, the work places one of the most important symbols in orthodox iconography: the Virgin Mary and Child at the centre of the centre. In Toxic Mary the relationship between the mother and child is explored and layered with that of religion, innocence, perversion and power. Religion, a subject that also features in Christ with Shopping Bags, can be seen as a great source of comfort to many and a guiding light for their morals and behaviours. However, Banksy expertly challenges this notion as the Madonna figure feeds the Infant Christ with a bottle that bears a skull and crossbones - the symbol of death and poison. Whilst Toxic Mary is one of Banky’s most overtly religious artworks, Christ with Shopping Bags and Grin Reaper also play on the concepts of death, rebirth and religion. Like with many series and individual works, Banksy composes motifs and imagery that satirise and play on societal pillars - the Christian religion being no exception.