Jonathan LeVine Curates ‘Provocateur: An Urban Art Signature Auction’ Set for July 16 at Heritage

Highlights include significant works by Shepard Fairey, Blek le Rat, Banksy, James Jean, Audrey Kawasaki and more DOWNLOAD DIGITAL PRESS KIT DALLAS, Texas (June 27, 2025) — This summer Heritage Auctions presents Provocateur, a curated celebration of Urban Art’s most iconic and influential creators. The July 16 Urban Art Signature® Auction is guest curated by renowned gallerist and dealer Jonathan LeVine, whose decades-long commitment to artists working both outside and inside the traditional art world has helped define the movement itself. The artworks in Provocateur reflect the raw energy, defiant vision and cultural urgency that gave rise to Urban Art and Street Art and continues to propel it into the future. “Urban Art was born from rebellion,” says LeVine, who began organizing underground shows in the 1990s New Jersey punk scene before launching his influential Chelsea gallery in the mid-2000s. “It has roots in hip-hop, graffiti, skate culture and comics, but it has evolved to include pop surrealism, street activism and deeply personal narratives. This auction is a snapshot of that evolution.” From Shepard Fairey's politically charged Flag HPM and Blek le Rat's Peace stencil on linen, to James Jean’s dreamlike Bowler (Vessel)and Audrey Kawasaki’s elegant If Only You Knew, Provocateur spans a range of mediums and styles. The auction also includes standout works by Tats Cru and other New York City graffiti artists such as Tracy 168, Part One, and a rare, smile-inducing tailgate painting by Kustom Kulture legend Ed “Big Daddy” Roth. Additional artists represented include Doze Green, Matt Gondek, Dalek, Banksy and Invader—names whose influence stretches from alley walls to major museum collections. The auction highlights how Urban Art, once dismissed as outsider or fringe, now commands serious attention from collectors, curators and institutions alike. Many of the featured artists have bridged that gap without compromising their roots or their voices. “That’s part of what excites me about this auction,” LeVine says. “These artists are still pushing boundaries, still asking questions, still delivering work that feels urgent.” “I was especially excited to include the Roth piece,” LeVine adds. “It connects to my earliest influences—comic art, MAD Magazine and Wacky Pack stickers. That visual language shaped how I see art and what I look for in artists: boldness, weirdness and authenticity.” The auction underscores LeVine’s deep commitment to artists whose work defies category. Over the years, he has been an early and vocal supporter of figures such as Doze Green, Invader and Shepard Fairey and has consistently championed work that blurs boundaries between the street and the gallery, the outsider and the institution. “Collaborating with Jonathan LeVine on this sale has been nothing short of inspiring,” says Taylor Curry, Director of Modern & Contemporary Art at Heritage. “His eye for talent and his curatorial instincts are unmatched in the Urban Art space. Provocateur isn’t just a collection — it’s a statement about the enduring power and relevance of this genre, and the meaningful dialogue it continues to inspire with today’s contemporary artists.” “This auction represents a thrilling milestone for Heritage,” says Walter Ramirez, Heritage’s Director of Urban Art. “Provocateur is more than a showcase of groundbreaking Urban Art—it’s a defining moment in the auction world. Collaborating with Jonathan LeVine has elevated this sale into a truly historic event, one that underscores Urban Art’s rightful place at the forefront of contemporary collecting.” Heritage’s July 16 Provocateur: Curated by Jonathan LeVine Urban Art Signature® Auction will be on view at Heritage’s New York gallery beginning July 11. For a complete list of works and artists included in the auction, and to view high-resolution images, please go here. Heritage Auctions is the largest fine art and collectibles auction house founded in the United States, and the world's largest collectibles auctioneer. Heritage maintains offices in New York, Dallas, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Palm Beach, London, Paris, Amsterdam, Brussels, Hong Kong and Tokyo. Heritage also enjoys the highest Online traffic and dollar volume of any auction house on earth (source: SimilarWeb and Hiscox Report). The Internet's most popular auction-house website, HA.com, has more than 2 million registered bidder-members and searchable free archives of 7,000,000 past auction records with prices realized, descriptions and enlargeable photos. Reproduction rights routinely granted to media for photo credit. For breaking stories, follow us: HA.com/Facebook and HA.com/Twitter . Link to this release or view prior press releases . Hi-Res images available: Christina Rees, Director of Communications 214-409-1341; CRees@HA.com