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Banksy’s Piranhas police sentry box artwork, which made headlines last year, is set to be showcased at the new London Museum.
The artwork first appeared as part of the street artist’s animal-themed collection in the capital, featuring a stretching black cat on a bare billboard, a pelican on Bonners fish bar in Walthamstow and a gorilla appearing to lift up a shutter on the entrance to London Zoo.
Now, Banksy’s ‘piranhas’ artwork will be exhibited at the flagship City museum, which will open next year at its new location at Smithfield’s Market.
It comes after members of the City of London Corporation’s Culture, Heritage, and Libraries Committee voted in favour of gifting the artwork to the museum.
Sharon Ament, Director of the London Museum said: “The only thing better than having a Banksy appear on the walls of London Museum in Smithfield or Docklands is having a Banksy on display inside.
“No other artist connects with people so profoundly, with such vigour, humour, and honesty than Banksy. If you’re lucky, a Banksy will appear at the end of the road in which you live and it’s always a moment when one does. Banksy brings art to the streets and it’s for everyone.
“We are that, too, in the context of a museum, of course, so what a great acquisition and gift to have for the people of London - a City of London Police Box, filled with piranhas.”
Following confirmation from Banksy that it was his work, the sentry box was relocated by the City Corporation to Guildhall Yard, where thousands of people viewed it from behind safety barriers and more recently, to Guildhall’s South Ambulatory.
The artwork will be carefully removed from Guildhall this year and placed temporarily in London Museum’s stores before it goes on permanent public display in 2026.
The City Corporation has pledged £222m to the museum which, alongside the Barbican Centre, will transform the north-west of the Square Mile into a global arts capital, elevating the City’s attractiveness as a leading business and visitor destination.
The museum is expected to attract two million visitors annually and create over 1,500 jobs.
