Two original Banksy pieces from the late Matthew Perry’s collection sold at a Dallas heritage auction, raising close to £1 million. the iconic "Girl with Balloon" and the 2008 screenprint "Nola" together fetched £887,093 and £88,709 after buyer’s premiums, and the proceeds will be funneled to the Matthew Perry Foundation to combat addiction stigma.

Banksy's "Girl with Balloon" fetches £887,093 at Dallas auction

The most recognizable of the two works, "Girl with Balloon," sold for a hammer price of £709,674. After the 25 % buyer’s premium was added, the final amount rose to £887,093 , according to Heritage Auctions. The piece, originally a 2002 Shoreditch mural later reproduced on London’s Southbank with the caption “There is Always Hope,” attracted fierce competition among bidders, underscoring the street artist’s enduring market power.

2008 "Nola" screenprint brings in £88,709, reflecting Katrina commentary

"Nola," a colour screenprint on Arches wove paper created during Banksy’s 2008 visit to New Orleans, sold for £70,967 before premiums. With the same 25 % buyer’s premium appied, the total reachd £88,709. The work depicts a little girl holding an umbrella that is itself raining, a stark critique of failed protective systems after Hurricane Katrina.

Heritage Auctions highlights other high‑value items, including a £103,000 Bochner painting

Beyond the Banksy pieces, the auction featured more than a hundred items from Perry’s life. The most expensive non‑Banksy item was an oil painting by minimalist artist Mel Bochner, which fetched £103,000. A signed script for the "Friends" seriees finale earned £70,200, while a vintage TV Guide display and a custom Chandler Bing bobblehead added pop‑culture flair.

Matthew Perry Foundation slated to receive over $2.2 million for addiction work

The combined proceeds from the Banksy sales and the broader estate auction exceed $2.2 million, earmarked for the Matthew Perry Foundation. The foundation, created by Perry’s estate, focuses on reducing addiction stigma, offering education, support services, and advocacy. As Heritage Auctions senior director Brian Chanes noted, the outpouring of enthusiasm for the beloved actor was overwhelming, turning personal memorabilia into instruments of social good.

Who will oversee the disbursement of the $2.2 million charity fund?

The report does not specify which organisations or trustees will manage the foundation’s new funds, leaving a gap in transparency. Additionally, it is unclear how much of the money will be allocated to direct services versus public‑awareness campaigns, and whether any portion will support research into ketamine‑related risks, the substance linked to Perry’s tragic death.