Two identical Banksy murals appear in London highlighting child homelessness

LONDON: Elusive street artist Banksy has been linked to a new mural in Bayswater, west London, marking his latest work in the capital. The black-and-white piece, painted on a wall above a row of garages on Queen’s Mews, depicts two children lying on the ground wearing winter coats, bobble hats, and wellington boots, with one child pointing skyward. The artwork was first noticed on Monday, and Banksy confirmed his involvement by posting an image of the mural on his Instagram account.

The BBC reports that a strikingly similar mural appeared outside the Centre Point tower in central London on Friday, though Banksy’s representatives have only officially confirmed the Bayswater piece.

Local artist Daniel Lloyd-Morgan told the BBC that the Centre Point location likely carries a social message about child homelessness. “Everyone is enjoying themselves, but many children are not having a good time at Christmas,” he said. Lloyd-Morgan added that passersby largely ignored the mural, walking past as if the children were stargazing, a poignant reflection of society’s neglect.

Banksy fan Jason Tomkins echoed this interpretation, suggesting the artwork makes a deliberate statement on homelessness. The Centre Point tower, located near Tottenham Court Road station, has long been a symbol of housing issues. Built in 1963 and left empty for more than a decade, the building once sparked outrage among social activists. The homelessness charity Centrepoint was even founded in response to the tower, which has now been converted into luxury flats.

The depiction of the children also recalls one of Banksy’s earlier works. Tomkins noted a resemblance to a child featured in Banksy’s 2018 Port Talbot mural, an unusual repetition for the artist.

This latest London mural follows Banksy’s September artwork outside the Royal Courts of Justice, which showed a protester lying on the ground holding a blood-splattered placard while a judge stood over him with a gavel. That piece was later removed. In 2024, Banksy also created a series of animal-themed street works across London, including depictions of gorillas, elephants, and other wildlife.

The new murals in Bayswater and central London continue Banksy’s tradition of using public spaces to draw attention to social issues, blending striking visuals with a subtle yet powerful commentary.