Over the past week, Banksy, the enigmatic artist, has been prolific, creating a series of artworks that have captivated his audience. Fans have been speculating about the meaning behind these murals, filling the comment sections of his social media posts with theories.
While Banksy has been caught on camera in costume, his true identity remains a mystery since he first started spray-painting and stenciling in Bristol, England, in the 1990s. Despite this, he is one of the most recognized artists in the world.
The artist’s recent surge in activity has left fans wondering what is driving his daily murals, especially as he is often known for his satirical commentary on current events.
Fans are eagerly seeking out Banksy’s latest works, capturing them in photographs before disappearing into the shadows.
On August 5, Banksy unveiled a silhouette of a goat or gazelle perched on a ledge, with rocks falling beneath its feet, hinting at an inevitable fall.
Some online users believe the animal, potentially a goat or gazelle, represents the national animal of the Palestinian people, suggesting a message related to the conflict in Gaza.
The next day, Banksy presented a mural of two elephants in neighboring windows, with a missing or discolored brick between their trunks, which they seem to be sharing or playing with.
Banksy often incorporates elements of the natural world and human society into his art, posing questions and adding a touch of color. In March, he confirmed creating a mass of green paint, an unnatural foliage, behind the wall of a bare tree.
Fans gathered in the comment section of his August 7 post to decipher the meaning of three monkeys depicted jumping on a concrete wall beneath a passing transit system.
Shortly after Banksy posted a mural of a howling wolf, a satellite perched atop a garage appeared, adorned by masked individuals.
When Banksy’s works are removable, they are often acquired by collectors for substantial sums.
“Love is in the Bin,” a 2021 painting by the British street artist, sold at auction for a staggering 18.58 million British pounds, roughly $23.7 million U.S. dollars, according to Statista.
On Friday, Banksy graced Bonners Fish Bar, a fish and chip shop in Walthamstow, with a silhouette of two pelicans. The painting depicts one pelican tossing a fish into its mouth, enjoying its meal, while the other appears to be retrieving its catch from the shop’s sign.
The shop expressed gratitude on their social media, acknowledging the unique gesture.
“So proud to have a @banksy on the side of our shop! Thank you for choosing us, and Walthamstow to showcase your talent,” their post read.
The artwork emerged after counter-protestors took to the streets of Walthamstow to voice their concerns about the lack of diversity and inclusivity in the London Borough.
Among Banksy’s recent creations are a stretching cat painted on a billboard, which was later removed, a colorful school of swimming piranhas in a palette of blue painted on a London Police box, and a gray rhino seemingly mounting a small, abandoned car on a London sidewalk.
The comment sections of his social media posts, which confirm his handiwork, are filled with curious and imaginative viewers.
Today, Banksy unveiled his latest work, located outside the London Zoo’s shuttered doors. It features the silhouettes of a gorilla lifting the garage-like door to free a seal and a bird, surrounded by other wide-eyed animals.
While it is unclear if Banksy has finished this series, fans believe he has completed it for now.