Two mysterious Banksy-style pieces of graffiti have appeared overnight in the city of Lichfield sparking rumours the famous street-artist has paid a visit to the Midlands.
Excited residents who spotted the artwork in the picturesque city say they are sure the work is in the exact style of the renowned artist – whose work is more frequently spotted on the streets of his hometown of Bristol and London.
The first striking piece of graffiti shocked locals when it appeared on the back of the Lichfield Dry Cleaning and Launderette.
It shows a young boy dressed in orange and blue scratching some markings onto the ground.
The second is daubed on a wall in the city and bears an uncanny resemblance to Banksy’s famous Brussels statue of a boy urinating into a fountain.
Sue Sage, 48, who owns the launderette where one of the pieces of graffiti appeared, said: “I actually quite like it. We all wondered if it had been done with a stencil because it’s so good.
“It’s definitely in Banksy’s style and there is a word above it but we can’t make out what it says.
“I used to work in London and there’s a lot of street art on the walls and I liked it.
“I certainly won’t be painting it out – its a lovely addition to the building.”
Tom Brookes, who was walking through the city at the weekend when he spotted the artwork, said: “I was walking to my mate’s and noticed this looks just like a ‘Banksy’.
“I think it’s great and I really hope it is him.”
Another Lichfield resident Gemma Hodges, 29, added: “The first thing I thought when I saw it was that must have been done by Banksy.
“Someone told me there was another one that looked like the famous Brussels statue so I went to look at that too.
“The style is definitely very similar his so we all think he has visited Lichfield one quiet night.
“It would be amazing if he had. I didn’t think he travelled very far north of London or Bristol.
“But I know he’s been around the world too and there are a few pieces in the USA – so it would be a real honour if he had chosen our little city.”
Pieces Banksy are highly sought after and fetch tens of thousands of pounds at auction.
Last week a Banksy-style stencilled artwork appeared opposite the BBC Television Centre in London.
The graffiti showed a boy with a Blue Peter badge on his lapel putting a Jim’ll Fix It badge down the drain.
A spokesman for Banksy denied it was his and workmen quickly removed the piece after BBC security bosses were alerted to the embarrassing parody.
definitely not banksy
BY TB.
In a word no. I’m from bristol where he’s everywhere.
Not on your nelly…
thats by stencil artist tb.
thats by TB. from birmingham/Sutton
BY Stencil artist TB. don’t even look like a banksy its TB.
BY TB. FROM SUTTON DONT EVEN LOOK LIKE A BANKSY ITS TB.