ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Banksy's Valentine's Day Mural Denounces Domestic Violence

artist · 2026-04-27

On Valentine's Day 2023, Banksy unveiled a new mural titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara' on a wall in Margate, near London, addressing domestic violence. The artwork depicts a 1950s-style housewife with a bruised face and missing tooth, having just disposed of an abusive partner into an abandoned freezer. The piece incorporates real elements found on site, including the freezer and a plastic chair. Banksy shared the work on Instagram. The artist previously created a Valentine's Day-themed piece in Bristol in 2020, showing a child with a slingshot targeting Cupid. His most recent prior work was in Ukraine, condemning the ongoing conflict.

Key facts

  • The mural is titled 'Valentine's Day Mascara'.
  • It was created on a wall in Margate, near London, on Grosvenor Place.
  • The artwork shows a woman with a bruised face and missing tooth.
  • She has thrown an abusive partner into an abandoned freezer.
  • The freezer and a plastic chair are real objects incorporated into the piece.
  • Banksy shared the mural on his Instagram profile.
  • In 2020, Banksy created a Valentine's Day mural in Bristol with a child slingshotting Cupid.
  • His most recent prior work was in Ukraine, addressing the war.

Entities

Artists

  • Banksy

Locations

  • Margate
  • London
  • United Kingdom
  • Grosvenor Place
  • Bristol
  • Ukraine

Sources