Banksy Donates Coronavirus Artwork To Hospital In Honour Of 'Superhero' NHS Workers
Get the latest on coronavirus. Sign up to the Daily Brief for news, explainers, how-tos, opinion and more.
Banksy is honouring health care workers with his latest work of art.
The anonymous Bristol street artist’s newest piece, titled “Game Changer”, was unveiled Wednesday at Southampton General Hospital.
“Thanks for all you’re doing. I hope this brightens the place up a bit, even if its only black and white,” Banksy reportedly wrote in a note to hospital staff who are on the front lines of the fight against the coronavirus.
The artwork will be auctioned in support of health care charities in the autumn, the BBC reports.
Paula Head, the chief executive of University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, said it was “a huge honour” that Banksy had “chosen us to recognise the outstanding contribution” of all the workers in the NHS during the pandemic.
It’s unclear why Banksy chose Southampton to receive the piece – or how it was delivered. Banksy’s publicist did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for further information.
The artist last month joked on Instagram about redecorating his bathroom during lockdown.
“My wife hates it when I work from home,” he captioned this post:
Also in April, a face mask was added to his 2014 interpretation of Johannes Vermeer’s painting “Girl With A Pearl Earring” in his home city of Bristol, although it’s unknown whether Banksy was behind the stunt.