On the left, a worker scrubs away Banksy’s latest mural on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice. On the right, the mural before it was destroyed. Credit – Danny Halpin—AP, Callum Parke—AP
The latest mural drop by graffiti artist Banksy, which appeared on the side of the Royal Courts of Justice building in central London over the weekend, has been scrubbed away by court authorities—never to be seen again.
The mural depicted a judge in a traditional white wig and black robe striking a protester with his gavel as the protester’s sign is marked with Banksy’s signature blood spatters.
The pseudonymous England-based artist posted the picture to his Instagram with a caption that read simply “Royal Courts Of Justice. London.” It was seen as a commentary on a newly passed law banning support for Palestine Action, which has drawn criticism from rights groups and legal experts over free speech concerns. Some 900 people were arrested at a protest in London against the law just two days before Banksy’s new mural appeared.
Read More: See Banksy’s Art From Around the World
Although Banksy didn’t reference the Palestine Action protests directly, he has a history of using his art to highlight the Palestinian cause. He has created several works in the West Bank and Gaza, and owns a hotel in Bethlehem overlooking the Israeli separation wall that runs through Palestinian territory, which he said offers the “worst view in the world.”
Once Banksy’s Royal Courts mural was discovered, law enforcement swiftly covered the painting with sheets of plastic and barriers, only for it to be later scrubbed away by a masked worker. HM Courts and Tribunals Service, which runs the court, said in a statement that the 143-year-old complex “is a listed building and HMCTS are obliged to maintain its original character.”
This is not the first time that Banksy’s priceless artworks have been destroyed. Over the years, many works have been painted over by overzealous municipal workers, stolen by members of the public, or chipped away from the wall to be sold.
Here are some of the other Banksy works that were lost.
A building demolished
A Banksy mural three stories high on the side of a building in the coastal town of Dover was painted over and then brought down with the building it was on when it was demolished in November 2023.
The painting depicted a worker chipping away at a star on the flag of the European Union (EU) and was unveiled in 2017, shortly after the United Kingdom decided to leave the EU.
The mural was whitewashed over in August 2019, covering the artwork. Various efforts to restore the work were considered before the building was finally brought down.
The painting was valued at around $1.2 million at the time the building was demolished.
Two women take a selfie next to a mural by artist Banksy of a workman removing a star from the EU flag near the ferry terminal in Dover, Kent, in 2017. Gareth Fuller—PA via Getty Images
A Brexit-themed Banksy mural in Dover in 2019, was covered up with white paint and scaffolding before the building was eventually destroyed. Gareth Fuller—PA via Getty Images
Sending a message
The nature of Banksy’s artworks—mostly illegal graffiti murals created without permits—makes them inherently vulnerable to removal by disapproving local governments.
This occurred in 2008, when Banksy’s 2007 mural “One Nation Under CCTV” was ordered for removal by the Westminster City Council of London, which said it was created without a permit and might be seen as encouraging other unauthorized graffiti.
“If you condone this, then you condone graffiti all over London,” the BBC reported that Robert Davis, the council’s deputy leader, said.
The artist provided an exclusive statement to TIME Magazine responding to the council’s decision at the time: “I don’t know what next door is complaining about — their building is so ugly the ‘No Trespassing’ sign reads like an insult,” he said, referring to Royal Mail, which was a tenant of the building that has sought the mural’s removal.
On the left, Banksy’s 23-ft high mural in the yard of a Royal Mail depot in Newman Street, central London, which was seen as a commentary on surveillance in the United Kingdom. On the right, council workers start to remove the mural in 2009. Fiona Hanson—AP, Ian Nicholson—AP
Spirited away
It’s not just bureaucrats and law enforcement who are bringing Banksy’s works down; the astronomical price his art can reach at auction has also led to many of his pieces being stolen by zealous fans or those hoping to make money off his work.
A Banksy work sprayed onto a Southeast London stop sign, which featured three military drones, was stolen in December 2023, less than one hour after it had been confirmed as a genuine piece by the elusive artist. The theft was in plain sight, as photographs documented two men with a boltcutter running off with the sign. The piece had been valued at $500,000 on the open market, but the man was later arrested.
Late last year, Banksy’s painting of a wolf howling towards the sky, painted on a satellite dish on top of a building in south-east London, was also stolen by masked individuals, just hours after its debut.
A person removes a piece of art work by Banksy, which shows three drones on a traffic stop sign, which was unveiled at the intersection of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, south east London, on December 22, 2023. Aaron Chown—Press Association via AP Images
A person removes a piece of art work by Banksy, which shows what looks like three drones on a traffic stop sign, which was unveiled at the intersection of Southampton Way and Commercial Way in Peckham, south east London. Picture date: Friday December 22, 2023. Aaron Chown—Press Association via AP Images
People remove a new artwork by Banksy, depicting a howling wolf painted on a satellite dish that was placed on a shop roof in Peckham, south London. The artist’s latest artwork comes a day after he unveiled three monkeys painted on a bridge in Brick Lane, east London. Picture date: Thursday August 8, 2024. Jordan Pettitt—Press Association via AP Images
Overzealous workers
A Banksy painting that depicted a caricature image of the British Royal Family on the side of a building in East London was mistakenly painted over by the Hackney Council in London in 2009.
The mural was featured on the cover of a single by the rock band Blur.
Council workers were prevented from covering the mural entirely by the distraught owner of the building, who managed to convince them to stop before they destroyed it completely.
The council later said that the destruction was a mistake.
A Banksy work was also destroyed in 2023 when builders in the southern county of Kent demolished the building without realizing they had destroyed a painting by the famed Bristol-based artist.
The mural The Royal Family by the iconic street artist Banksy stands in Stoke Newington, in London on February 29, 2020. Alberto Pezzali—NurPhoto via Getty Images
Contact us at letters@time.com.
