Attributed to Banksy, a new sculpture featuring a suited individual, obscured by a flag and stepping off a precipice, emerged in Central London.
The installation of the artwork took place under the cover of darkness this week, just shy of two months following the release of a journalistic probe into Banksy’s actual identity.
The recent statue was placed overnight at Waterloo Place.
Vuk Valcic / SOPA Images / LightRocket / Getty Images
A newly erected statue, seemingly by the artist Banksy, was placed this week in central London during the night. The piece portrays a man in a suit, blinded by the flag caught in the wind that he is holding, unknowingly stepping off the edge of a tall pedestal.
As the sunlight broke on the statue Wednesday morning, onlookers quickly noticed Banksy’s recognizable signature scribbled on the base of the statue’s plinth. On Thursday, the artist’s Instagram account shared a video appearing to corroborate his involvement—the post features clips of the statue’s apparent installation alongside landmarks like Big Ben, a statue of Winston Churchill, a black cab, and a guardsman.
“Personally, I believe what’s quite clever here is the proportions are spot on for the location,” comments Philip Mould, a London-based art dealer whose gallery is located nearby, in his own Instagram video. “I also appreciate it when art, which is frequently overlooked, can spark controversy and stimulate conversation in this manner.”
The statue, which Mould speculated to be fiberglass, has a similar height and finish to numerous others located in Waterloo Place. Nearby are statues of King Edward VII, who ruled from 1901 to 1910; Florence Nightingale, known as the pioneer of modern nursing; the Crimean War Memorial; and various other monuments commemorating military figures, dukes, and lords.
On Thursday, officials installed safety barriers around the statue as crowds of spectators gathered. As of May 1, the eye-catching new installation remains in place, and Reuters’ Paul Sandle reports that London authorities have stated they do not intend to take it down.
“Banksy has a tremendous capacity to motivate individuals from diverse backgrounds to appreciate contemporary art,” a representative from the office of London Mayor Sadiq Khan conveyed to the New York Times’ Michael Levenson via email. “His art consistently garners significant interest and discourse, and the mayor hopes that this latest work can be preserved for both Londoners and tourists to enjoy.”
Did you know? Banksy’s latest
The unexpected statue continues Banksy’s recent series of new public art pieces. Just before Christmas in 2025, he revealed two identical black-and-white murals featuring children lying on their backs, looking up, interpreted as a commentary on child homelessness.
Nevertheless, considering the often short-lived existence of many of Banksy’s previous creations, some admirers of the enigmatic artist are playing it safe. For instance, in September 2025, Banksy painted a mural at the Royal Courts of Justice depicting a judge striking a protester with a gavel. It was promptly destroyed by authorities.
“With Banksy, it’s a temporary phenomenon because it’s public art—you can’t predict how long it will be displayed,” shares Ollie Isaac, a 23-year-old student observing the statue in Waterloo Place, with BBC News’ Aurelia Foster.
Banksy introduced two murals featuring children positioned on their backs in London in December 2025. Stefan Rousseau / PA Images / Getty Images
A Reuters investigation published in March sought to uncover Banksy’s true identity, but the artist chose not to confirm or deny any specifics.
Statues represent a relatively uncommon medium for Banksy, who is best recognized for his murals, including the well-known Girl with Balloon series that first appeared in London in 2002. However, in 2004, the artist installed in London The Drinker, a parody of Rodin’s renowned The Thinker statue, featuring a man in a similar position as the original but sporting a traffic cone on his head.