New Banksy Mural Appears
A new Banksy artwork has appeared in London, depicting two children lying down and quickly becoming the subject of multiple YouTube videos. The mural's instant online coverage demonstrates Banksy's enduring ability to catalyze public dialogue around urban art.
The artwork appeared in two separate London locations just before Christmas 2025. One mural was found on a residential building in Queen's Mews in Bayswater, while an identical image was spotted outside the Centre Point tower near Tottenham Court Road. Banksy officially claimed the Bayswater piece on his Instagram account. The location of the unconfirmed second mural at Centre Point tower is historically significant. The skyscraper was a focal point for housing protests in the 1970s and inspired the name of the youth homelessness charity, Centrepoint. The building, once left empty, now contains luxury apartments. Many observers believe the timing and locations are a direct commentary on rising child homelessness in the UK. Government data released in October 2025 indicated that over 170,000 children were living in temporary accommodations, a record high. The image of children stargazing amidst urban decay has been compared to the Oscar Wilde quote, "we are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars." Banksy's Instagram post of the Bayswater mural notably features an overflowing rubbish skip in the frame, highlighting this contrast. Childhood innocence is a recurring theme in Banksy's work, often used to underscore social issues. This piece echoes the gesture of his famous "Girl with a Balloon," suggesting a meaning that lies just out of reach. Shortly after Banksy confirmed the Bayswater mural, it was boarded up for protection. This is a common fate for the artist's street pieces, which are often vandalized or removed, as was the case with his mural at the Royal Courts of Justice earlier in the year.
