A day after a large sculpture appeared in central London, street artist Banksy confirmed it was his work on Thursday (local time), the BBC reported.
The sculpture, which bears Banksy’s signature, shows a man in a suit walking forward from a plinth, carrying a flag covering his face. The location of the statue is Waterloo Place, St James’, an area designed to celebrate imperialism and military dominance in the 19th century. Banksy’s work stands near statues of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial.
Banksy’s representatives told the BBC that the sculpture was installed in the early hours of Wednesday, after which the artist posted a video on his Instagram account on Thursday.
Of the statue’s placement on the ceremonial island in Waterloo Place, Banksy said: “There was a bit of a gap.” Since he appeared on Wednesday, the crowds have been steadily growing.
Read also | ‘Guess they helped themselves to my work’: Banksy urges fans to do just that
How did Banksy manage to install the sculpture?
A question that left many curious was how such a large statue was installed. James Peak, creator of the BBC podcast series, said you could see yellow traffic cones marking the area as a large vehicle pulled up before deploying the lorry’s stabilizers and someone in an orange hi-vis vest. Next, someone wearing goggles is briefly seen before the statue is lifted onto the plinth using a hook.
Peak added: “He’s got a really big team who are a very, very experienced bunch. They’re the kind of guys who can put on a Metallica gig in 24 hours: great people, but actually extremely organized and professional when it comes to getting things done.”
Read also | Banksy’s new artwork in Wales: Commentary on air pollution?
“They probably scouted the area, figured out what was going to happen when they left in the early hours with the low loader, and probably placed it within minutes, at the quietest possible time,” he noted.
Public reaction to Banksy’s statue?
According to a BBC report, public reaction to this statue has been nothing but positive. The 23-year-old student said: “With Banksy it’s a limited time event because it’s public art – you don’t know how long it’s going to last.”
The student called the concept “brilliant” and went on to say that it appears to be a response to the “resurgence of nationalism in the world and in this country.”
Commenting on the street artist’s Instagram post, one user wrote: “I love that he appears when enough time has passed for him to forget and arrives in full force unnoticed,” while another wrote: “As a long-time Banksy collector, this really hit home. The energy of a large monument, but the idea is brutally simple: a handsome figure blinded by his own flag. Classic Banksy. Quiet at first, then impossible to miss.”
Westminster City Council reacts to Banksy statue
Westminster City Council, which is responsible for the area, also responded to the installation of the sculpture, saying it was excited to see the artist’s latest work in Westminster, adding that it was a remarkable addition to the city’s vibrant public art scene.
Read also | Banksy shocks the art world by shredding a $1.4 million work at auction
It noted: “While we have taken initial steps to protect the statue, at this time it will remain open to the public to view and enjoy.”
Banksy’s artwork
According to the report, this is not the first time that Banksy, whose identity remains officially unconfirmed, has installed a sculpture in London. Here is a list of Banksy’s works that have appeared in London over the years:
1. In 2004, he placed The Drinker, a subversive reinterpretation of Rodin’s The Thinker, on Shaftesbury Avenue, although it was stolen shortly afterwards.
2. In 2024, he also unveiled an animal-themed trail across the capital, featuring images of goats, elephants, gorillas, monkeys, piranhas, rhinos and pelicans.
3. In September 2025, Banksy said he was behind the artwork at the Royal Courts of Justice, which shows a protester sprawled on the ground holding a blood-stained banner, with a judge standing above him raising a gavel.
4. In December 2025, a mural depicting two children lying on the ground appeared in Bayswater.
Read also | Maybe new Banksy graffiti, depicting Trump, will surface on the West Bank barrier
The latest work is part of a wider series of recent works in London by the artist, who is known for creating bold and often controversial public art around the world.
These works are usually installed without prior notice and later verified through posts on his Instagram account.
Banksy’s pieces, which are often placed on both private and public property, are generally considered politically charged and are often removed soon after they appear.
