A New Banksy Artwork Has Gone On Display in London at Covent Garden’s London Transport Museum

One year ago today (August 7), a brand new Banksy mural appeared in Brick Lane – the third in a series of animal stencils across the city. Since then, it’s been a pretty barren year for fans of the Bristolian artist in the capital, but one of London’s most beloved museums is now here to save us from the Banksy-less times we’ve been living in.

Covent Garden’s London Transport Museum may not be the collaborator you expect from one of the nation’s best known artists alive today, but it’s the one we’ve got, and we’re pretty excited about it. The work in question – a rat hanging onto the arm of a clock – was originally sprayed onto a signal box in Croydon back in 2019 as part of the artist’s Gross Domestic Product pop-up shop.

It featured in a video Banksy posted to Instagram back when that project, which was a commentary on rampant consumerism in today’s world, was ongoing, and the design is also now sold on clocks, but there’s only one place in the world where you can see the real deal.

🎨 Here’s a map of all the Banksys you can still spot around London.

The door which featured the painting was quickly removed to avoid anyone stealing or destroying it, but it has since found a new home in a different signal control cabinet, preserving the original artistic intention and look. And that box is now on display at the London Transport Museum in Covent Garden. This is the first Banksy for the museum.

Elizabeth McKay, who is the CEO of the LTM, explained that ‘whilst this artwork could not remain in its original location, it’s fantastic to display it here in the Museum for visitors to enjoy it up close’. She added: ‘Banksy’s art is part of the city’s story, loved by Londoners and visitors alike.’

You don’t need to add anything onto your ticket or pay extra to see the Banksy – just book a time slot and you’re sorted. If you fancy having a peek, you can book a ticket to the London Transport Museum, which is valid for entry for a whole year, here.

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