Banksy Confirms New Flag-Blindfolded Statue in Waterloo Place

A bronze-like sculpture of a suited man marching off a plinth with a billowing flag covering his face was installed on a traffic island in Waterloo Place, central London, near the statues of King Edward VII, Florence Nightingale and the Crimean War Memorial. The piece appeared in the early hours of Wednesday, 29 April 2026, and was publicly visible on Thursday, 30 April. Banksy confirmed authorship in a short Instagram video posted Thursday, echoing his occasional three-dimensional works such as the 2004 “The Drinker” sculpture.

Banksy confirms a new statue in central London of a man blinded by a flag is his workBoston HeraldThe Guardian

• 29 April 2026, early morning: statue towed onto Waterloo Place, as shown in Banksy’s video.

Boston Herald

• 30 April 2026: locals and tourists gather; Banksy posts Instagram confirmation.

Banksy confirms a new statue in central London of a man blinded by a flag is his work

• 30 April 2026 onward: Westminster City Council announces protective measures; later, an unnamed source reports the statue’s removal for safekeeping.

Boston Herald

Westminster City Council welcomed the work, calling it “a striking addition to the city’s vibrant public art scene” and noting steps to protect it while keeping it publicly accessible. Banksy’s lawyer, Mark Stephens, told Reuters the artist “does not accept that many of the details contained within your inquiry are correct,” underscoring the need for anonymity amid “fixated, threatening and extremist behaviour.” Reuters also cited an alleged unmasking of Banksy as Robin Gunningham, a claim Gunningham denies.

The GuardianNME | New Musical Express

Passersby gathered to view the statue; a man in Banksy’s video said, “no, I don’t like it.” Builder George Georgiou, repeatedly misidentified as Banksy, complained, “It’s just really annoying because I’m still working. It’s disrupting my day endlessly,” and added, “grow up and get a life.” The work’s proximity to historic monuments has sparked debate over its place in the capital’s heritage.

NME | New Musical Express

Sources disagree on the statue’s current status—some say it remains accessible, while another notes removal for safekeeping. The alleged identification of Banksy as Robin Gunningham is contested by Gunningham himself. Additionally, the installation date is reported as either the early hours of Wednesday, 29 April, or simply “early hours of Wednesday,” creating a minor chronological ambiguity.

The Guardian

• “We’re excited to see Banksy’s latest sculpture in Westminster, making a striking addition to the city’s vibrant public art scene.”—Westminster City Council

NME | New Musical Express

• “While we have taken initial steps to protect the statue, at this time it will remain accessible for the public to view and enjoy.”—Westminster City Council

NME | New Musical Express

• “It’s just really annoying because I’m still working. It’s disrupting my day endlessly,”—George Georgiou, builder

NME | New Musical Express

• “does not accept that many of the details contained within your inquiry are correct”—Mark Stephens, lawyer for Banksy

The Guardian

City officials say the statue will remain in place pending assessment, though its reported removal for safekeeping hints at possible relocation.

The Guardian