Banksy installs new statue in central London : NPR
A statue of a man holding a flag covering his face and signed ‘Banksy’, appeared in Waterloo Place in London, Thursday April 30, 2026.
Kin Cheung/AP
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Kin Cheung/AP
A statue mysteriously erected in central London on Wednesday morning was confirmed to be the work of the mischievous and often politically oriented artist Banksy.
The statue depicts a man in a suit hoisting a large flag. The fabric of the flag, however, covers the man’s face, and his proud march seems to court disaster, as he descends from the pedestal with no ground beneath him.
The statue appeared in public just as King Charles III was making a state visit to Washington, DC, New York and Virginia, during which the King and Queen Camilla were feted by President Trump at a state dinner and during which the British king addressed Congress, pleading for the importance of NATO.
The statue, which features a signature from Banksy on its base, was erected on Wednesday night. On Thursday, a video of the work was posted on Banksy’s Instagram account, confirming that it was indeed his work. The video, on the theme 1901 of the British composer Edward Elgar Pomp and circumstance The first march – the melody of which was played at the coronation of King Edward VII – ends with a man telling the videographer how much he doesn’t like the work.
The statue is located on Waterloo Place, close to the heroic statues of King Edward VII and Florence Nightengale. It is unclear whether or not the artist received official permission for the installation; in an email to The New York Timesa representative for London Mayor Sadiq Khan wrote: “Banksy has a great ability to inspire people from diverse backgrounds to appreciate modern art. His work still sparks much interest and debate, and the Mayor hopes his latest work can be preserved for the enjoyment of Londoners and visitors.
On Friday, Westminster City Council said in a statement, shared with The Associated Press, that it had no plans to remove the work, writing: “We welcome Banksy’s latest sculpture to Westminster, which is a striking addition to the city’s vibrant public art scene. Although we have taken initial steps to protect the statue, for the time being it will remain available for the public to view and enjoy.”
Last September, London’s Royal Courts Service cleaned a freshly installed Banksy mural that had appeared two days earlier on a wall at its complex. The mural depicted a wigged judge attacking a protester with his gavel.
In March, Reuters published an investigation identifying Banksy as British artist Robin Gunningham, a claim previously made by Sunday mail in 2008. Neither Banksy nor his representatives have confirmed or denied the Reuters story.
