Banksy installed a new sculpture in central London on Thursday, depicting a man whose face is completely covered by a billowing flag [1].
The appearance of the piece marks a return to the public eye for the anonymous street artist, who often uses urban installations to provide social and political commentary.
The sculpture is located on a plinth in the Westminster area [2]. According to reports, the statue shows a man marching off the end of the plinth while holding a flag pole, with the fabric of the flag obscuring his entire face [3].
Banksy confirmed the authenticity of the work through a video posted to his Instagram account on April 30, 2026 [1]. "This is my work," Banksy said in the video [1]. To further verify the piece, the artist left a signature at the foot of the statue [2].
External organizations have also weighed in on the discovery. "We can confirm that the artist is behind the piece," a USA TODAY representative said to IndyStar [4].
The installation follows the artist's established pattern of placing provocative works in high-traffic areas to challenge viewers' perceptions of authority and identity. By placing the figure on a plinth, a structure typically reserved for honoring historical figures, Banksy contrasts the traditional nature of monuments with a figure whose identity is hidden by a symbol of nationalism [3].
“"This is my work," Banksy said in the Instagram video.”
The placement of the sculpture in Westminster, the political heart of the U.K., suggests the work is a critique of national identity or political blindness. By using a plinth, Banksy subverts the concept of the 'great man' monument, replacing a recognizable leader with an anonymous figure blinded by a flag.
