Banksy presents new art in London

Banksy appeared to confirm on Monday that a new mural in London, depicting two children lying down and pointing to the sky, is his latest work.

The elusive street artist posted two photos of the artwork on his official Instagram account on Monday, hours after its appearance on a wall on the side of a building in Bayswater, west London, sparked speculation over whether Banksy was behind it.

The black and white mural, painted over a garage, shows two figures dressed in winter hats and boots lying on the ground, one of them pointing a finger upward.

An identical image appeared on Monday at the foot of a tower in central London, but the graffiti artist did not post that version on his account.

Banksy began his career spray painting buildings in Bristol, England, and has become one of the best-known artists in the world. His paintings and installations sell for millions of dollars at auction and have attracted thieves and vandals.

While his work often criticizes government policy on migration and war, the latest artwork did not seem to convey an overt political message.

In September, he made headlines with a mural depicting a judge holding a gavel looms over an unarmed protester holding a blood-spattered sign.

That piece, which appeared on an exterior wall of a building of the Royal Courts of Justice, was quickly covered up. Officials said it had to be removed because of the building’s historical importance. Banksy had posted a photo of that work, titled “Royal Courts of Justice. London,” on social media, his usual method of claiming that a work is authentic.

Banksy also caught London’s attention last summer with a animal theme collection. And early last year, he unveiled a mural in London that many saw as a message about environmental conservation. The mural, in Finsbury Park, north London, appeared behind a heavily pruned tree and showed a person apparently spray-painting the tree’s branches green.