A famous Banksy artwork featuring spray-painted piranhas has been moved into storage as it prepares for permanent display at the London Museum's new location. The piece, titled 'Piranhas,' was one of nine Banksy works that appeared across London during a remarkable nine-day period last summer.
The artwork consists of spray-painted fish on a police sentry box located in the City of London, creating the visual effect of fierce piranhas swimming in an aquarium within the box. After Banksy confirmed the work as authentic, the City of London Corporation quickly removed the sentry box from its original location and placed it on public display at the Guildhall, where visitors could view it from behind safety barriers.
The sentry box, which had been stationed on Ludgate Hill since the 1990s, is now being stored in preparation for its permanent exhibition at the London Museum's new Smithfield location, scheduled to open in 2026. The museum acquired the Piranhas piece after the City of London Corporation voted to donate the artwork to the institution.
Glyn Davies, Head of Curatorial at London Museum, expressed excitement about the acquisition, stating: "With the arrival of Banksy's Piranhas, our collection now spans from Roman graffiti to our first piece of contemporary street art. This work by one of the world's most iconic artists now belongs to Londoners, and will keep making waves when it goes on show next year in the Museum's new Smithfield home."
The London Museum, formerly known as the Museum of London, permanently closed its London Wall location in December 2022 to prepare for its relocation. The institution changed its name and branding to London Museum in July 2024. The City of London Corporation has allocated $222 million toward the museum's relocation project, which is expected to attract two million visitors annually and create more than 1,500 jobs.
The Piranhas artwork was part of Banksy's animal-themed series that captivated London last summer. Over nine consecutive days in August 2024, nine different works appeared throughout the capital, including a goat, a rhino mounting a car, two elephants with their trunks stretched toward each other, three monkeys swinging on a bridge, and a howling wolf on a satellite dish. Unfortunately, some of these works were subsequently removed, covered up, or vandalized after appearing across the city.
Chris Hayward, Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, highlighted the significance of preserving the artwork: "Banksy stopped Londoners in their tracks when this piece appeared in the Square Mile - and now, we're making it available to millions. By securing it for London Museum, we're not only protecting a unique slice of the City's story, but also adding an artwork that will become one of the museum's star attractions." The move ensures that this piece of contemporary street art will be preserved for future generations to appreciate and study.
