Banksy Claims London Statue Blinded by Flag as His Work
Banksy has revealed that a newly unveiled statue in London, depicting a suited figure stepping off a ledge with his face hidden by a flag, represents his father. This artwork critiques nationalism and the war industry, echoing themes from previous pieces by Jofre Oliveras in Aberdeen and Conor Harrington in Miami. Concurrently, the Met Gala is experiencing anti-corporate demonstrations due to its funding from the Bezos era, with a street art initiative drawing attention to Amazon's connections to ICE through bus stop advertisements stating 'Amazon Powers ICE'. The latest street art roundup showcases creations by artists including Depoe, Dirt Cobain, Frank Ape, and others, captured by photographers Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington.
Key facts
- Banksy confirmed the London statue of a man blinded by a flag is his father.
- The statue appeared overnight in London in late April/early May 2026.
- Similar works include Jofre Oliveras' mural in Aberdeen (2022) and Conor Harrington's in Miami (c. 2016).
- The Met Gala faced protests over Amazon funding, with bus stop ads stating 'Amazon Powers ICE'.
- Hyperallergic covered the anti-Amazon/Met campaign in mid-April 2026.
- Street artists featured include Depoe, Dirt Cobain, Frank Ape, Gane, Guila, Gushe, IMK X, Jorit, Love X, Miss 17, Modomatic, Ollin, Pear, Qzar, Rems, Sonni, Stikman, Tuney, and Want Pear.
- Photos were taken by Jaime Rojo and Steven P. Harrington.
- The article is from BSA Images of the Week, dated May 3, 2026.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
- Jofre Oliveras
- Conor Harrington
- Depoe
- Dirt Cobain
- Frank Ape
- Gane
- Guila
- Gushe
- IMK X
- Jorit
- Love X
- Miss 17
- Modomatic
- Ollin
- Pear
- Qzar
- Rems
- Sonni
- Stikman
- Tuney
- Want Pear
- Jaime Rojo
- Steven P. Harrington
Institutions
- Met Gala
- Amazon
- ICE
- Hyperallergic
- Brooklyn Street Art (BSA)
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Aberdeen
- Scotland
- Miami
- United States
- New York City
- Manhattan