An artwork that gallery officials say was created at a former Detroit car plant by elusive British graffiti artist Banksy has sold at auction for $137,500.

The Detroit Free Press and the Detroit News said the piece was sold at Julien's Auctions in Beverly Hills, California.

An 8ft, 1,500lb section of cinderblock wall featuring the artwork was excavated from the Packard plant site in 2010 by the non-profit 555 Gallery in Detroit.

The mural features a child holding a bucket of red paint and a brush next to a message that says: "I remember when all this was trees."

The 555 gallery will get $110,000 from the sale, and officials plan to use it to renovate the gallery's new permanent home.

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