Banksy piranha piece to star at new London Museum in Smithfield Market

The London Museum, formerly the Museum of London, has acquired a Banksy piranha work for its permanent collection ahead of its move to the historic Smithfield Market. The piece, part of Banksy's 2024 urban jungle series, was painted on a police sentry box at Ludgate Hill and later removed. It will be the first contemporary street art in the museum's collection. The museum's relocation to Smithfield Market, designed by Horace Jones, follows the market's closure approved in late 2024. The new museum, set to open in 2026, will span 10,000 square meters in the former General Market, with temporary exhibition spaces in the Poultry Market opening in 2028. The project is led by architects Stanton Williams, Asif Khan, and Julian Harrap Architects, funded by the City of London Corporation with £222 million. The museum aims to attract 2 million visitors annually and create over 1,500 jobs. The Banksy work was donated to the museum and will be a highlight of the permanent exhibition.