Banksy's Balloon Girl Voted Britain's Most Beloved Artwork
A survey of 2,000 Britons, commissioned by Samsung to promote its The Frame TV, has ranked Banksy's Balloon Girl as the most beloved artwork in the UK. The list of 100 works was curated by art writers and editors. Banksy's piece topped the poll, followed by John Constable's The Hay Wain (1821) and Jack Vettriano's The Singing Butler (1992). J.M.W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire (1839) came fourth. The survey reflects a shift in British taste toward contemporary and street art, fueled by Banksy's mystique, his anti-Brexit stance, and London's forward-looking identity. Balloon Girl, first stenciled in London in 2002, has faced vandalism and removal. In 2014, it was featured in a video for the With Syria campaign, narrated by Idris Elba with music by Elbow, supporting NGOs like Save the Children, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Key facts
- Banksy's Balloon Girl ranked first in a UK survey of 2,000 people.
- The survey was commissioned by Samsung for the launch of The Frame TV.
- John Constable's The Hay Wain placed second, Jack Vettriano's The Singing Butler third.
- J.M.W. Turner's The Fighting Temeraire came fourth.
- Balloon Girl was created in 2002 in multiple London locations.
- One version was erased in February 2014; others were covered by ads or construction.
- In 2014, Balloon Girl appeared in a With Syria campaign video with Idris Elba and Elbow.
- The campaign supported Save the Children, Oxfam, and Amnesty International.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
- John Constable
- Jack Vettriano
- J.M.W. Turner
- Peter Blake
- David Hockney
- Antony Gormley
- Anish Kapoor
- Idris Elba
- Elbow
- Massive Attack
- Niccolò Lucarelli
Institutions
- Samsung
- Save the Children
- Oxfam
- Amnesty International
- Artribune
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Syria