Bidding on Banksy's Nazi-doctored painting tops $220K for AIDS charity

The elusive British graffiti artist Banksy has taken New York and it looks like he's doing more for the city than just creating beautiful art work.

Bloomberg reports the artist has donated a painting to New York-based Housing Works, which provides support for homeless patients living with HIV/AIDS. As requested, the organization put the painting up for auction online and as of Tuesday, bids topped $220,000.

In an interesting twist, the oil painting which depicts a lake, wooden bench and snowy mountains was purchased for $50 two months ago from the same shop. Banksy added a man in a Nazi uniform contemplating the lake and his signature. The work, titled “The banality of the banality of evil,” appears on Banksy’s website.

Bloomberg reports Tuesday morning a woman walked into a Housing Works thrift shop near Gramercy Park to drop off the anonymous donation. The organization subsequently received a call from the artist’s team, authenticating the work.

Bidding will close at 8 p.m. Oct. 31.

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