Fake Banksy website is auction house ad

Banksy has been stirring up a rapid-fire news cycle the past two days – even more so than usual.

First, there were the (untrue) reports that his month-long New York show, “Better Out Than In,” would be coming to Los Angeles soon – it is not.

Then Thursday morning, there was the confirmation that the website that went up a day earlier – which looks exactly like his own website promoting the New York show – was fake; a prank, most assumed, given the British street artist’s propensity for such stunts. Not to mention his fan base’s inclination to do the same.

ART: Can you guess the high price?

Now it’s been revealed that the non-Banksy/L.A.-specific website that sparked the rumors he was heading west -- BanksyLAX.com -- was not exactly a random prank. It is actually an ad created by Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills to promote its inaugural street art auction – and at which Banksy’s now-famous Flower Girl mural will be sold.

Other artists featured at the Dec. 5 event include Risk, Mear One, Indie 184, Cope2, Chaze and Miner I.

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Twitter.com/@debvankin