Banksy Art Mural Fear

A graffiti removal team sparked fears an early Banksy mural would be lost forever from the side of a house in Bristol when it parked up outside. The mural has been put up for sale at an art gallery in Devon with the house offered for free as part of the sale. Residents in the street in Easton reacted angrily when contractors appeared to be about to remove the art. In fact they only removed a rusty street sign which is attached to the wall of the house where the mural is. A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said there was never any instruction for the mural to be removed. The owners had originally put their house up for sale but were horrified to discover that all prospective buyers said they would remove the mural once contracts were exchanged. The artwork, which is about four-years-old, is thought to be one of Bristol-born Banksy's last free-painted works. He normally uses stencils. Meanwhile, a London council has admitted street cleaners accidentally washed off two Banksy murals, including one of a girl in a frilly dress wearing a gas mask, from the side of a building. A Banksy artwork depicting pensioners bowling with bombs was sold for £102,000 at auction house Sotheby's in February. (For full source and article click the Headline). Irish Art