A new artwork that appeared on the side of a house in Bristol yesterday has been confirmed as the work of the elusive street artist Banksy. The Banksy Valentine mural features a stencil-artwork of a girl firing a slingshot of red flowers made with spray-painted ivy. Banksy published picture of the work on his Instagram page at midnight on 14 February.
There’s so many people coming and enjoying it, taking pictures, it’s fantastic
Kelly Woodruff, whose father owns the property in Barton Hill, said they now wanted to protect the “special” work from the approaching Storm Dennis. “As it’s Valentine’s Day, it’s really special and to have it in 3D with the flowers is incredible,” said 37-year-old Ms Woodruff.
“There’s so many people coming and enjoying it, taking pictures, it’s fantastic. “There’s been a lot of debate if it is a Banksy or not. Most people I’ve spoken to think it 100% is, and they’re naming it the Valentine’s Banksy.
“It’s incredible and beautiful.” Flowers placed on the road sign as part of the artwork had already been stolen, said Ms Woodruff, along with a protective plastic screen they placed over it on Thursday evening.
Ms Woodruff said her family had contacted Bristol City Council’s street maintenance department but it was unable to offer any advice or help.
“We’re not sure where to go from here. We’re going to get some advice [about protecting the work],” she added.
In the meantime, Banksy’s Vote to Love (2018), first exhibited at the Royal Academy Summer Exhibition has sold at Sotheby’s for £950,000 (£1.2m with fees), more than double its low estimate. The work on cardboard depicts a Vote to Leave placard where the word leave has been replaced by a heart-shape balloon turning it into the word LOVE. The auction was a three-way battle on the phones. It sold in the room to Bartow Morgan, the chief executive of the US BrandBank.
Banksy is an anonymous graffiti artist from Bristol, who uses subversive epigrams and dark humour to provide political and social commentary on streets, walls, and bridges of cities throughout the world. Banksy’s work grew out of the Bristol underground scene, which involved collaborations between artists and musicians. Banksy authentication and artist enquiries or reports of stolen work should be directed to Pest Control. The latest work has appeared on the official Banksy Instagram account, the latest confirmation of an authentic Banksy.