A mysterious piece of art believed to be a Banksy has shown up in London – and locals are already concerned that their rent will increase.
The large mural appeared ‘overnight’ on the side of a building near Finsbury Park, north London.
The artwork is a big green splash behind a tree without leaves, which gives the impression of foliage.
Below, there is a portrait of a girl holding what appears to be a pressure sprayer while looking up.
Residents said they woke up this morning to see the artwork on the side of the apartment complex.
Local James Roebuck, 26, said on X: ‘Banksy came overnight and now my rent will skyrocket.’
The authenticity of the work is currently unconfirmed; however, the creator of the BBC Radio 4 series The Banksy Story, James Peak, has stated that he is certain the artwork belongs to the elusive artist.
‘The message is clear. Nature is struggling, and it is up to us to help it thrive,’ he told the BBC.
‘If you go way back to the beginning of his work, he is always looking for something he can do with minimal effort to make something look really cool.’
Peak spoke highly of Banksy’s attention to detail, noting that the bright green color used matched that of Islington Council, as well as being a nod to St Patrick’s Day.
‘It’s spring now, and this tree should be bursting forth with leaves, but Banksy must have cycled past and thought how miserable it looks,
“So, on St Patrick’s Day, he has taken exactly the same shade of green Islington Council use for their street signs and used a pressure hose or a fire extinguisher to spray the leaves back in, onto the rather dilapidated wall behind,’ he said.
Islington councillor Flora Williamson spotted the artwork while out canvassing in her borough.
She said it was ‘by far the most exciting thing to happen’ today and there was ‘lots of local interest’.
Banksy shares his artwork on his Instagram account, and there have been no new posts of his pieces since December of last year.
Pest Control, an official body that authenticates Banksy prints, has been approached for comment.
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