A statue rumored to be aBanksy art pieceappeared in central London this week. Now, the artist is confirming it was his idea.
The British graffiti artist's representatives told USA TODAY the elusive artist is behind the work. Banksy's signature was seen at the bottom of the statue when it was unveiled in the early hours of Wednesday, April 29.
The statue depicts a man striding atop a pillar, holding a large, flowing flag that covers his face. The artwork is positioned on a traffic island in Pall Mall, in Westminster, one of London's most prestigious areas.
The artist wanted to display the artwork there because he said, "There was a bit of a gap," according to representatives.
See the Banksy flag statue
The statue is near other monuments in the area, including the Crimean War Memorial, and statues of Florence Nightingale, Edward VII and King George III.
Who is Banksy?
Banksy has been famous for displaying or erecting artwork in public spaces. Many of his pieces are street artworks that have popped up around the United Kingdom.
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While his identity is widely unknown,Reutersrecently published an investigation determining that the artist is Robin Gunningham, a Bristol man.
According toprevious USA TODAY reporting, Banksy first became famous in the early 1990s, when his artwork appeared spray-painted on walls and trains.
His work often serves as commentary on polarizing issues, including migration, militarism, politics and capitalism. In 2018, the artist's painting "Girl with Balloon” famously shredded itself at auction after being sold for $1.4 million.
Banksy makes little from public sales of his works at auction houses, according to previousUSA TODAY reporting. Still, he's considered a multimillionaire from the discreet sales of original works to private collectors.
Michelle Del Rey is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at mdelrey@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Banksy behind new flag statue in London. Why the artist put it there
