Is This Valentine’s Day Mural in Banksy’s Hometown Really by the Elusive Artist? Residents Are Betting on It, Even as the Artist Stays Mum

A new mural that cropped up overnight in Bristol, England, is
being hailed as the “Valentine’s Day Banksy”—though the artist
himself, who often quickly takes credit for his work on social
media, has yet to confirm its authenticity.

Fans are already queuing up to take selfies with the artwork,
which shows a young girl holding a slingshot toward the sky
with an explosion of bright red flowers arced above her.

Residents of the Barton Hill area in the city, which is Banksy’s
hometown, seem thrilled at the prospect of having been visited by
the undercover artist.

Local council member Afzal Shah, told the BBC it could “potentially attract great
tourism and interest, which will be welcomed by local residents,
community groups, and, of course, local businesses.”

“We are Bristol born and bred, and it’s just so exciting,” Kelly
Woodruff, an office manager who co-owns the building that was
painted, told the Guardian. She added: “I just
kept, like, squealing and I’ve not stopped smiling all day.”

Things could get complicated, though, if Banksy confirms the
work is his. “If so, we need to protect it as soon as
possible, though I am not quite sure how to do that,” she told the
BBC. The work has since been covered with
Plexiglas.

Security often becomes a headache for newly minted owners of
Banksy works.

Last summer, after a work by the artist appeared in the
Welsh town of Port Talbot, more than 20,000 visitors flocked to see
the mural in only three weeks, prompting owner Michael Lewis
to invest in fencing and guards.

He was so distressed at his newfound
responsibility that he opted to sell the work to Banksy
collector John Brandler (who, for the record thinks the new work in Bristol is real).

Lewis later told the Telegraph: “I don’t think I’ll miss
it.”

Woodruff may soon find herself in a similar
position. “We’ve never been in this situation, so any advice
is welcome,” she told the Guardian.

The post Is This Valentine’s Day Mural in Banksy’s Hometown
Really by the Elusive Artist? Residents Are Betting on It, Even as
the Artist Stays Mum appeared first on artnet News.