Statue in Waterloo Place confirmed as Banksy

The renowned street artist Banksy has confirmed that a recently unveiled statue in central London is indeed his creation.

The sculpture, which features Banksy's signature, portrays a suited man striding off a plinth while holding a flag that obscures his face.

Located in Waterloo Place, St James's, this site is notable for its grand architecture and prominent statues, including those of Edward VII, Florence Nightingale, and the Crimean War Memorial.

The statue has attracted considerable attention since its appearance on Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon, Banksy validated the work as his own by releasing a video on his Instagram account.

Etched upon the plinth is Banksy's signature, highlighting his authorship.

Visitors have been flocking to the location to capture photographs of the statue, which intriguingly stands in front of the gilded statue of Athena adorning the façade of the Athenaeum Club.

James Peak, the creator of the BBC podcast series "The Banksy Story," commented, "This piece provides a compelling critique of a bombastic, proud individual in power, with the flag entirely obstructing his view, alluding to the imminent fall from the plinth."

Peak further noted that Banksy has “pulled off another fantastic coup...the positioning is absolutely knockout."

He remarked, "We must confront the reality that Britain has an imperialistic history laden with takeovers, with extreme nationalism being an abhorrent aspect that Banksy critiques."

"Every Banksy piece functions as a campaign."

Famed for his provocative and high-profile works across the globe, Banksy’s most recent pieces have predominantly surfaced in London.

In December, a mural depicting two children on the ground was spotted in Bayswater. Previously, in September, he asserted authorship over a scene at the Royal Courts of Justice complex featuring a protester lying down with a blood-stained placard while a judge looms over him wielding a gavel.

In 2024, Banksy produced an animal trail throughout London, featuring artworks that include a goat, elephants, a gorilla, monkeys, piranhas, a rhino, and pelicans.

Typically, these pieces have been stealthily installed and later authenticated by Banksy via his Instagram account.

His artworks, located on both public and private property, are widely interpreted as political statements and are often removed shortly after their installation.