Banksy has claimed responsibility for a new statue of a man brandishing a flag installed in central London [1].
The installation marks a return to the city for the anonymous artist, continuing his history of using public spaces to critique power structures and national symbols. By placing the work near the seat of British political and royal influence, Banksy challenges the permanence and authority of traditional monuments.
The statue appeared at Waterloo Place, located near Pall Mall and Buckingham Palace [2]. The figure depicts a man with a covered face, walking with one leg stepping off the pedestal while holding a flag [3]. The work was installed on Wednesday, April 29 [4].
Confusion initially surrounded the origin of the piece. Some reports indicated the artist had not yet confirmed the work, though the pedestal bore the street artist's name [5]. Banksy said the statue was his via Instagram on Thursday, April 30 [6].
This latest intervention follows the artist's pattern of guerrilla installations that blend street art with traditional sculpture. The placement in Waterloo Place puts the figure in direct dialogue with the formal architecture and statues of the surrounding district [2].
The work focuses on the tension between the individual and the state. The covered face of the figure suggests anonymity or resistance, while the act of stepping off the pedestal symbolizes a break from established order [3].
“Banksy has claimed responsibility for a new statue of a man brandishing a flag installed in central London.”
The installation at Waterloo Place serves as a deliberate contrast to the nearby monuments of the British monarchy and state. By creating a figure that is physically leaving its pedestal, Banksy symbolizes a departure from rigid institutional tradition. The proximity to Buckingham Palace ensures the piece is viewed not just as art, but as a political statement on the nature of authority and public identity.
