Banksy Surprises His Hometown With a Delightful Valentine’s Day-Themed Mural

Banksy would like to wish you a very happy Valentine’s Day. The
artist has created a new mural in Bristol, England, that was hailed
as the “Valentine’s Day Banksy” even before the artist took credit
for the work on his Instagram
Thursday evening.

Fans almost immediately began lining 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, were 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.”

Even before the artist confirmed the work was his, the
building’s owner opted to cover the mural with protective
Plexiglass. Now that it’s official, security may become a
headache.

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, immediately identified the new work in Bristol as
real).

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

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

Note: This post has been updated to reflect that Banksy has
officially taken credit for the mural. 

The post Banksy Surprises His Hometown With a Delightful
Valentine’s Day-Themed Mural appeared first on artnet
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