{"id":1914951,"date":"2026-04-30T17:28:11","date_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:28:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1914951"},"modified":"2026-04-30T17:28:11","modified_gmt":"2026-04-30T14:28:11","slug":"banksys-latest-sculpture-joins-londons-imperial-icons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1914951","title":{"rendered":"Banksy\u2019s Latest Sculpture Joins London\u2019s Imperial Icons"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-new-sculpture-london-2026-tw.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&#8221;]<\/p>\n<div class=\"col-post-body col\">\n<div class=\"row post-body\">\n<aside class=\"post-body-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Art\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\">\n                                                                                                                    <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li>\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n                                                                                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled  \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}},{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}}]\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">1 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit self-self\">Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"2\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">2 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit \">Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu Via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \">\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Banksy dropped a new sculpture of a faceless flag-bearer in Waterloo Place in London<\/li>\n<li>Fans speculate that the piece, situated between figures of British historical icons, is commentary on how individuals can be blinded by power<\/li>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Central London just got a new Banksy original. Staged in the historically charged Waterloo Place, the sculpture depicts a suited figure blindfolded by its own flag confidently marching off its plinth.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inner-container\">\n<div class=\"inner-content\">\n<div class=\"adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-content-ad-outer\">\n<p><!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"adunit in-content lazy-load no-init\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The work was dropped in the square overnight on Wednesday via crane. Scrawled with \u201cBanksy\u201d at its base, the sculpture quickly caught wind from fans of the elusive street artist, who authenticated the piece in a video posted to Instagram earlier today.\n<\/p>\n<p>The area, St James\u2019s, is known for its monuments of British imperial figures. The new Banksy sits beside monumental bronzes of Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War Memorial, with a gilded Athena ruling over the facade of the Athenaeum Club.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media bypass\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DXwf7pis6KT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Dropping a figure such as the flag-bearer in this league of individuals proves politically provocative, which is only to be expected from the artist. Many readings from fans so far speculate the statue is commentary on \u201cblind patriotism,\u201d or how can power structures heedlessly lead themselves to their own demise.\n<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not sure how long the statue\u2019s here to stay, but given Banksy\u2019s last London interventions, it\u2019s looking like not for long. Last year, several murals by the artist cropped up across the city, bringing attention to topics like protest, conflict, surveillance and class. A protestor-striking judge hit the walls of London\u2019s Royal Courts of Justice in September, with its removal drawing just as much controversy as its mounting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6712821\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Anna Park is Deleting &#8220;Ego&#8221; from the Art World\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6714033\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince\u2019s \u2018Helter Skelter\u2019 Is Pure American Grit\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6713554\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Lauren Halsey Readies a Technicolor Hollywood Bowl Takeover\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"city-related-posts-wrapper\" id=\"post-body-city-related-post\">\n<h3>\n        Find out more for London<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"swiper-container\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-1\">\n<div id=\"post-6712808\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/nhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london\" data-title=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6712808\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F29%2Fnhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london-0-1.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The artist searches for her Vietnamese roots in \u2018Of Walking On Fire,\u2019 now on view at London\u2019s Autograph gallery.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-2\">\n<div id=\"post-6711937\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/wepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info\" data-title=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6711937\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F28%2Fwepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info-00.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The \u2018On Belonging\u2019 exhibit brings together the platform\u2019s creative network for a programme of art, film, literature and music.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    Looking for more suggestions for London?<i class=\"icon icon-right-arrow\"><\/i>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"widget-newsletter-form\">\n<div class=\"hb-input-group\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"errors\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    BanksyLondonArtworks\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"teads-adcall\"><\/div>\n<div data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_POLL\" class=\"adunit ad-poll\" data-freestar-ad=\"__1x1 __2x2\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"category\",\"ros\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"adPosition\":[\"bottom\"],\"sortable\":\"false\"}'><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"sponsored-content row\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-clipper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-inner\">\n            <!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-article adunit sticky-post aftercontent\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-footer\" class=\"post-footer row\">\n<div class=\"col-shopping-break\">\n<div class=\"shopping-break-container feedbreak-grid-layout\" data-commerce-context='{\"article_id\":6713431,\"article_url\":\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james\",\"destination\":\"HBX\",\"placement\":\"article_below_the_fold\",\"source\":\"editorial_shopping_break\",\"query\":\"Banksy\"}'>\n<div class=\"adunit ad-shopping-break\" data-adunit=\"HBEN_SHOP_BREAK\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"us\",\"region\":\"naam\",\"subRegion\":\"\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}' data-sortable=\"false\" data-outofpage=\"true\"><\/div>\n<div id=\"shopping-break-6713431\" class=\"shopping-break-wrapper\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<hr>\n<p><!-- cached at 2026-05-02T19:39:53-04:00 --><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-comments\">\n<div id=\"comments\" class=\"post-comments none \">\n<header>\n<div class=\"heading\">\n                    <span class=\"comment-count\">0<\/span> <span>Comments<\/span>\n                <\/div>\n<div class=\"comment-dropdown-tooltip\">\n<ul>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"comment-dropdown-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/header><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"row post-body\">\n<aside class=\"post-body-sidebar\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Art\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\">\n                                                                                                                    <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li>\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n                                                                                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled  \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}},{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}}]\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">1 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit self-self\">Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"2\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">2 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit \">Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu Via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \">\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Banksy dropped a new sculpture of a faceless flag-bearer in Waterloo Place in London<\/li>\n<li>Fans speculate that the piece, situated between figures of British historical icons, is commentary on how individuals can be blinded by power<\/li>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Central London just got a new Banksy original. Staged in the historically charged Waterloo Place, the sculpture depicts a suited figure blindfolded by its own flag confidently marching off its plinth.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inner-container\">\n<div class=\"inner-content\">\n<div class=\"adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-content-ad-outer\">\n<p><!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"adunit in-content lazy-load no-init\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The work was dropped in the square overnight on Wednesday via crane. Scrawled with \u201cBanksy\u201d at its base, the sculpture quickly caught wind from fans of the elusive street artist, who authenticated the piece in a video posted to Instagram earlier today.\n<\/p>\n<p>The area, St James\u2019s, is known for its monuments of British imperial figures. The new Banksy sits beside monumental bronzes of Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War Memorial, with a gilded Athena ruling over the facade of the Athenaeum Club.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media bypass\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DXwf7pis6KT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Dropping a figure such as the flag-bearer in this league of individuals proves politically provocative, which is only to be expected from the artist. Many readings from fans so far speculate the statue is commentary on \u201cblind patriotism,\u201d or how can power structures heedlessly lead themselves to their own demise.\n<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not sure how long the statue\u2019s here to stay, but given Banksy\u2019s last London interventions, it\u2019s looking like not for long. Last year, several murals by the artist cropped up across the city, bringing attention to topics like protest, conflict, surveillance and class. A protestor-striking judge hit the walls of London\u2019s Royal Courts of Justice in September, with its removal drawing just as much controversy as its mounting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6712821\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Anna Park is Deleting &#8220;Ego&#8221; from the Art World\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6714033\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince\u2019s \u2018Helter Skelter\u2019 Is Pure American Grit\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6713554\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Lauren Halsey Readies a Technicolor Hollywood Bowl Takeover\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"city-related-posts-wrapper\" id=\"post-body-city-related-post\">\n<h3>\n        Find out more for London<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"swiper-container\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-1\">\n<div id=\"post-6712808\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/nhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london\" data-title=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6712808\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F29%2Fnhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london-0-1.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The artist searches for her Vietnamese roots in \u2018Of Walking On Fire,\u2019 now on view at London\u2019s Autograph gallery.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-2\">\n<div id=\"post-6711937\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/wepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info\" data-title=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6711937\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F28%2Fwepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info-00.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The \u2018On Belonging\u2019 exhibit brings together the platform\u2019s creative network for a programme of art, film, literature and music.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    Looking for more suggestions for London?<i class=\"icon icon-right-arrow\"><\/i>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"widget-newsletter-form\">\n<div class=\"hb-input-group\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"errors\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    BanksyLondonArtworks\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"teads-adcall\"><\/div>\n<div data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_POLL\" class=\"adunit ad-poll\" data-freestar-ad=\"__1x1 __2x2\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"category\",\"ros\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"adPosition\":[\"bottom\"],\"sortable\":\"false\"}'><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"sponsored-content row\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-clipper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-inner\">\n            <!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-article adunit sticky-post aftercontent\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-upper\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Art\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\">\n                                                                                                                    <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"post-body-sidebar-hype-comments-container list-unstyled d-none d-lg-block\">\n<li>\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n                                                                                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-sm-inline text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider d-none d-lg-block\">\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-category d-none d-lg-block\">\n<p>    Art\n                                                                                                    <\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-published d-none d-lg-block\">\n                                                                                                                    <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-author d-none d-lg-block\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-sidebar-share d-none d-lg-block\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<article class=\"post-body-article\">\n<div class=\"post-gallery-container small inner-media\">\n<div class=\"gallery-container post-gallery-contain\">\n<div class=\"hb-gallery before-booted full-screen-enabled  \" data-images=\"[{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}},{&quot;image&quot;:{&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;image_caption&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;small&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=480&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;medium&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=720&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;large&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;xlarge&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;,&quot;full&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?w=1440&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&quot;},&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/image\/2026\/04\/30\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg&quot;,&quot;alt&quot;:&quot;Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks&quot;,&quot;width&quot;:2500,&quot;height&quot;:1666,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu via Getty Images&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;creditKey&quot;:&quot;self&quot;,&quot;description&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;annotations&quot;:null,&quot;shop&quot;:{&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;label&quot;:&quot;Shop Now&quot;}}]\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"1\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-1.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">1 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit self-self\">Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"carousel-cell landscape\" data-gallery-index=\"2\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-inner-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"carousel-cell-image-wrapper annotation-container fixed-ratio-3-2\">\n<p>                                                                <img decoding=\"async\" class=\"carousel-cell-image\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james-2.jpg?q=75&amp;w=800&amp;cbr=1&amp;fit=max\" alt=\"Banksy Sculpture Waterloo Place St James's London Art Artworks\"><\/p><\/div>\n<p>                        <span class=\"gallery-image-index\"><span class=\"image-index \">2 of 2<\/span><span class=\"sprite-gallery-expand\"><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"gallery-meta-container credit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"spacer\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"credit \">Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu Via Getty Images<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \">\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Banksy dropped a new sculpture of a faceless flag-bearer in Waterloo Place in London<\/li>\n<li>Fans speculate that the piece, situated between figures of British historical icons, is commentary on how individuals can be blinded by power<\/li>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Central London just got a new Banksy original. Staged in the historically charged Waterloo Place, the sculpture depicts a suited figure blindfolded by its own flag confidently marching off its plinth.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inner-container\">\n<div class=\"inner-content\">\n<div class=\"adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-content-ad-outer\">\n<p><!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"adunit in-content lazy-load no-init\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The work was dropped in the square overnight on Wednesday via crane. Scrawled with \u201cBanksy\u201d at its base, the sculpture quickly caught wind from fans of the elusive street artist, who authenticated the piece in a video posted to Instagram earlier today.\n<\/p>\n<p>The area, St James\u2019s, is known for its monuments of British imperial figures. The new Banksy sits beside monumental bronzes of Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War Memorial, with a gilded Athena ruling over the facade of the Athenaeum Club.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media bypass\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DXwf7pis6KT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Dropping a figure such as the flag-bearer in this league of individuals proves politically provocative, which is only to be expected from the artist. Many readings from fans so far speculate the statue is commentary on \u201cblind patriotism,\u201d or how can power structures heedlessly lead themselves to their own demise.\n<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not sure how long the statue\u2019s here to stay, but given Banksy\u2019s last London interventions, it\u2019s looking like not for long. Last year, several murals by the artist cropped up across the city, bringing attention to topics like protest, conflict, surveillance and class. A protestor-striking judge hit the walls of London\u2019s Royal Courts of Justice in September, with its removal drawing just as much controversy as its mounting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<footer>\n<div class=\"related-stories-main-wrapper\">\n<h3>Related Stories<\/h3>\n<div class=\"stories-container\" data-layer-list-name=\"related_stories\" data-layer-list-offset=\"0\" data-layer-list-child-selector=\".story-item\">\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6712821\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Anna Park is Deleting &#8220;Ego&#8221; from the Art World\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6714033\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Arthur Jafa and Richard Prince\u2019s \u2018Helter Skelter\u2019 Is Pure American Grit\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<div class=\"story-item\" data-layer-item-id=\"6713554\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\"><span>&gt;<\/span>Lauren Halsey Readies a Technicolor Hollywood Bowl Takeover\n                                                                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"city-related-posts-wrapper\" id=\"post-body-city-related-post\">\n<h3>\n        Find out more for London<br \/>\n    <\/h3>\n<div class=\"swiper-container\">\n<div class=\"swiper-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-1\">\n<div id=\"post-6712808\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/nhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london\" data-title=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6712808\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F29%2Fnhu-xuan-hua-of-walking-on-fire-exhibition-autograph-london-0-1.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>Nhu Xuan Hua\u2019s Surreal Family Photographs Convey What Words Can\u2019t<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The artist searches for her Vietnamese roots in \u2018Of Walking On Fire,\u2019 now on view at London\u2019s Autograph gallery.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"swiper-slide\">\n<div id=\"city-related-post-2\">\n<div id=\"post-6711937\" class=\"post-box-container city-box \" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/wepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info\" data-title=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" data-post-box data-layer-item-id=\"6711937\" data-layer-item-blog-id=\"1\" data-layer-item-type=\"post\">\n<div class=\"post-box-image-container fixed-ratio-3-2\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-fluid lazy-load\" alt=\"WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community\" src=\"https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F28%2Fwepresent-spring-show-on-belonging-copeland-gallery-peckham-info-00.jpg?fit=max&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;w=750&amp;h=500\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-container\">\n<div class=\"post-box-content-title\">\n<h2><span>WePresent\u2019s London Spring Show Is an Ode to Community<\/span><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"post-box-content-excerpt\">\n                                The \u2018On Belonging\u2019 exhibit brings together the platform\u2019s creative network for a programme of art, film, literature and music.\n                        <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>    Looking for more suggestions for London?<i class=\"icon icon-right-arrow\"><\/i>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-email-signup-wrapper impression-tracker\">\n<h3>We got you covered. Don\u2019t miss out on the latest news by signing up for our newsletters.<\/h3>\n<div class=\"widget-newsletter-form\">\n<div class=\"hb-input-group\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"errors\">\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"terms\">By subscribing, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    BanksyLondonArtworks\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"teads-adcall\"><\/div>\n<div data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_POLL\" class=\"adunit ad-poll\" data-freestar-ad=\"__1x1 __2x2\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"category\",\"ros\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"adPosition\":[\"bottom\"],\"sortable\":\"false\"}'><\/div>\n<\/footer>\n<div class=\"sponsored-content row\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-clipper\">\n<div class=\"aftercontent-inner\">\n            <!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-article adunit sticky-post aftercontent\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_BTF_AFTERCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div id=\"post-body-top-bar\" class=\"post-body-top-bar d-block d-lg-none\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \">\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-share-meta-container\">\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-meta\">\n                                                    <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-category\"><\/p>\n<p>    Art<br \/>\n                                                    <\/span><br \/>\n                                                                <span class=\"post-body-top-bar-published\"><br \/>\n                                                                <time>Apr 30, 2026<\/time><\/p>\n<p>                                                    <\/span>\n                                                            <\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-top-bar-hype-comments-container \">\n<p>                <span class=\"hype-count grey\"><br \/>\n             1.8K<br \/>\n    <\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\">\n                    <span>Views<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                                                                <span class=\"disqus-comment-count\"><span class=\"icon icon-comment\"><\/span><span>0<\/span><span>\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"d-none d-none text\">Comments<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-tooltip\" role=\"tooltip\"><span>Comments<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"floating-arrow\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>            <span class=\"bookmark-icon\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"bookmark-svg\">\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"text\">Save<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content\">\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Banksy dropped a new sculpture of a faceless flag-bearer in Waterloo Place in London<\/li>\n<li>Fans speculate that the piece, situated between figures of British historical icons, is commentary on how individuals can be blinded by power<\/li>\n<li>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Central London just got a new Banksy original. Staged in the historically charged Waterloo Place, the sculpture depicts a suited figure blindfolded by its own flag confidently marching off its plinth.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"inner-container\">\n<div class=\"inner-content\">\n<div class=\"adunit-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"in-content-ad-outer\">\n<p><!-- Tag ID: HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT --><\/p>\n<div class=\"adunit in-content lazy-load no-init\" data-freestar-ad=\"__300x250\" data-adunit=\"HBENGLOB_ATF_INCONTENT\" data-targeting='{\"HBSiteLoc\":[\"ros\",\"article\"],\"HBSiteCat\":[\"art\",\"artworks\",\"banksy\",\"london\"],\"HBSitePage\":\"0\",\"HBSiteLang\":\"en\",\"country\":\"ro\",\"region\":\"emea\",\"subRegion\":\"europe\",\"HBArticle\":6713431,\"HBBlacklist\":\"1\"}'><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>The work was dropped in the square overnight on Wednesday via crane. Scrawled with \u201cBanksy\u201d at its base, the sculpture quickly caught wind from fans of the elusive street artist, who authenticated the piece in a video posted to Instagram earlier today.\n<\/p>\n<p>The area, St James\u2019s, is known for its monuments of British imperial figures. The new Banksy sits beside monumental bronzes of Edward VII and Florence Nightingale, the Crimean War Memorial, with a gilded Athena ruling over the facade of the Athenaeum Club.\n<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"instagram-media bypass\" data-instgrm-captioned data-instgrm-permalink=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/reel\/DXwf7pis6KT\/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading\" data-instgrm-version=\"14\">\n<div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>View this post on Instagram<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0\n<\/p>\n<p>A post shared by Banksy (@banksy)\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Dropping a figure such as the flag-bearer in this league of individuals proves politically provocative, which is only to be expected from the artist. Many readings from fans so far speculate the statue is commentary on \u201cblind patriotism,\u201d or how can power structures heedlessly lead themselves to their own demise.\n<\/p>\n<p>We\u2019re not sure how long the statue\u2019s here to stay, but given Banksy\u2019s last London interventions, it\u2019s looking like not for long. Last year, several murals by the artist cropped up across the city, bringing attention to topics like protest, conflict, surveillance and class. A protestor-striking judge hit the walls of London\u2019s Royal Courts of Justice in September, with its removal drawing just as much controversy as its mounting.<\/p>\n<div class=\"show-article\">\n<p>                                                            Read Full Article<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-author d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider share-divider\">\n<h6>Text By<\/h6>\n<p>        <span class=\"author-name\">Erin Ikeuchi<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-share d-block d-lg-none\">\n<hr class=\"sidebar-divider\">\n<h6>Share this article<\/h6>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"post-body-content-tags\">\n<div class=\"body collapsed\">\n<p>    BanksyLondonArtworks\n                                                            <\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/hypebeast.com\/2026\/4\/banksy-flag-sculpture-london-waterloo-place-st-james&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/image-cdn.hypb.st\/https%3A%2F%2Fhypebeast.com%2Fimage%2F2026%2F04%2F30%2Fbanksy-new-sculpture-london-2026-tw.jpg?w=1080&amp;cbr=1&amp;q=90&amp;fit=max&#8221;] Art Apr 30, 2026 1.8K Views 0\u00a0Comments Comments Save Text By Erin Ikeuchi Share this article 1 of 2 Photo by Dan Kitwood\/Getty Images 2 of 2 Photo by Rasid Necati Aslim\/Anadolu Via Getty Images Art Apr 30, 2026 1.8K Views 0\u00a0Comments Comments Save Summary Banksy dropped a new sculpture of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,39],"class_list":["post-1914951","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-hypebeast-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1914951","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1914951"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1914951\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1914951"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1914951"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1914951"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}