Banksy stop sign latest street artwork was stolen by two men just hours it was unveiled in Peckham, south London, in the UK on Friday.
British street artist Banksy unveiled his latest street artwork in the UK on Friday, but the excitement was short-lived. Just hours after its debut in Peckham, south London, two men were filmed running off with the installation, leaving onlookers bewildered.
The artwork featured a traffic stop sign adorned with three aircraft resembling military drones. Banksy shared an image of the installation on social media shortly after midday, drawing attention to his latest creation. However, the situation took an unexpected turn when bystanders captured footage of two men removing the artwork, with one making a quick getaway, sign in tow.
Witness Alex, a 26-year-old local, described the scene, saying, “We said, ‘what are you doing?’ but no one really knew what to do, we sort of just watched it happen.” The sign was ripped off, and the perpetrator sprinted across the road and disappeared.
Contrary to expectations, Banksy was not involved in the removal, according to reports. London’s Metropolitan police confirmed no reports related to the incident. Southwark Council, responsible for local services, including street signage, did not offer any comments on the matter.
This isn’t the first time Banksy’s artworks have faced removal shortly after appearing. A mural depicting a 1950s-style housewife with a swollen eye and a missing tooth, initially in Margate, southeast England, was promptly taken down by local officials. However, it resurfaced in September at “The Art of Banksy” exhibition in central London.
The exhibition showcases various famous Banksy pieces, such as “Girl With Balloon,” “Flower Thrower,” and “Rude Copper,” while also focusing on his recent works addressing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine. Interestingly, a rare nugget of information about the elusive artist emerged last month in a 2003 BBC interview, where he revealed his first name as “Robbie.”
