Statue of a man blinded by a flag put up by Banksy in central London

The artwork was installed under the cloak of night this week, less than two months after a journalism investigation into Banksy’s true identity was published
Christian Thorsberg | Daily Correspondent
A new statue possibly by the artist Banksy was erected this week in the middle of the night in central London.

The artwork depicts a suited man, blinded by the wind-blown flag he is carrying and walking unknowingly off the ledge of a tall pedestal.

When the sun came up on the statue Wednesday morning, people were quick to note Banksy’s signature scrawled along the base of the statue’s plinth.

On Thursday, the artist’s Instagram account posted a video seemingly confirming his involvement—the post includes footage of the statue’s apparent installation, interspersed with cuts to London icons including Big Ben, a statue of Winston Churchill, a black cab and a guardsman soldier.

“Personally, I think what’s rather clever about it is he’s got the proportions perfectly right for the space,” says Philip Mould , a London-based art dealer whose gallery is near the statue, in an Instagram video of his own.

“I also rather like it when art, which is often forgotten, can be controversial, can be stimulating in this way.”
Authorities on Thursday placed safety barriers around the statue as growing crowds of onlookers gathered.

As of May 1, the provocative new installation is still standing, and Reuters ’ Paul Sandle reports that London authorities say they don’t plan to remove it.

“Banksy has a great ability to inspire people from a range of backgrounds to enjoy modern art,” a representative from the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan tells the New York Times ’ Michael Levenson in an email.

“His work always draws great interest and debate, and the mayor is hopeful that his latest piece can be preserved for Londoners and visitors to enjoy.”
Still, given the often limited public lifespan of many of Banksy’s past works, some fans of the elusive artist aren’t taking any chances.

For example, in September 2025, Banksy painted a mural on the Royal Courts of Justice depicting a judge bludgeoning a protester with a gavel.

Authorities swiftly destroyed it.

“With Banksy, it’s a limited time event because it’s public art—you don't know how long it’s going to be up,” Ollie Isaac, a 23-year-old student observing the statue in Waterloo Place, tells BBC News ’ Aurelia Foster.

A Reuters investigation published in March aimed to reveal Banksy’s true identity, but the artist declined to confirm or deny details.

Statues are a relatively rare medium for Banksy, who is better known for his murals, including his Girl with Balloon series, which debuted in London in 2002.

But in 2004, the artist installed in London The Drinker , a satire of Rodin’s famed The Thinker statue, depicting a man sitting in a similar pose as the original but also wearing a traffic cone on his head.

Christian Thorsberg | Read More
Christian Thorsberg is an environmental writer and photographer from Chicago.

His work, which often centers on freshwater issues, climate change and subsistence, has appeared in Circle of Blue , Sierra magazine, Discover magazine and Alaska Sporting Journal .

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