Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work

Culture Banksy confirms new statue installed in central London is his work May 2, 20261:25 PM ET Anastasia Tsioulcas A statue of a man holding a flag covering his face, and signed 'Banksy', which has appeared in Waterloo Place in London, Thursday, April 30, 2026. Kin Cheung/AP hide caption toggle caption Kin Cheung/AP A statue that was erected mysteriously in central London early Wednesday has been confirmed as the work of the mischievous, often politically oriented artist Banksy. The statue depicts a man in a suit hoisting a large flag.The flag's cloth covers the man's face, however, and his proud march appears to be courting disaster, as he steps off the plinth with no ground beneath him. News King Charles argues for stronger cooperation in speech to a joint meeting of Congress The statue appeared in public just as King Charles III made a state visit to Washington, D.C., New York City and Virginia, in which the king and Queen Camilla were feted by President Trump at a state dinner and during which the British royal addressed Congress, arguing for the importance of NATO. The statue, which includes a Banksy signature on its base, was erected overnight on Wednesday. By Thursday, a video about the piece had been published on Banksy's Instagram account, confirming it as his work. The video, set to British composer Edward Elgar's 1901 Pomp and Circumstance March No.1 – whose melody was played at King Edward VII's coronation – ends with a man telling the videographer how much he dislikes the work. Sponsor Message The statue is positioned in Waterloo Place, near 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 Times, a representative for the mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, wrote: "Banksy has a great ability to inspire people from a range of backgrounds to enjoy modern art. His work always draws great interest and debate, and the mayor is hopeful t...