Banksy's New Mural in Nottingham Sparks Ownership Dispute with Local Artist Itchers
Banksy has claimed a new stencil-installation in Nottingham, depicting a girl playing hula-hoop with a bicycle tire, posted on his Instagram on October 17, 2020. The work is on a brick wall beside a hairdresser on Rothesay Avenue, with a real bike missing its rear wheel chained to a lamppost. The piece, typical of Banksy's playful and subversive style, has drawn over 1.5 million likes. However, local street artist Itchers, 28, from Sutton Coldfield, based in Birmingham, has claimed the work is his, stating he created it to bring joy during COVID-19 lockdown and has the stencil as proof. Itchers expressed confusion and disappointment, seeking answers from Banksy. The Nottingham City Council protected the mural with perspex after it was vandalized twice. The dispute raises questions about authorship and Banksy's motives.
Key facts
- Banksy posted a photo of a new stencil in Nottingham on his Instagram on October 17, 2020.
- The stencil shows a girl playing hula-hoop with a bicycle tire, with a real bike missing its rear wheel nearby.
- The mural is located on Rothesay Avenue, Nottingham, beside a hairdresser.
- The post received over 1.5 million likes.
- Local artist Itchers claims the work is his, created to bring joy during COVID-19.
- Itchers says he has the original stencil as proof.
- Nottingham City Council protected the mural with perspex after it was vandalized twice.
- The dispute is unprecedented as Banksy may have claimed someone else's work.
Entities
Artists
- Banksy
- Itchers
Institutions
- Nottingham City Council
- BBC
Locations
- Nottingham
- Rothesay Avenue
- Sutton Coldfield
- Birmingham
- Bristol