A recent piece of art by Banksy has attracted a large audience in downtown London. The artwork, located on a pedestal in Waterloo Place, depicts a man in a suit walking towards the edge, his view obstructed by a waving flag. Banksy’s signature is etched on the back of the pedestal, although the artist has not yet verified the piece through official channels.

This unveiling follows a probe that purportedly revealed the true identity of Banksy as Robin Gunningham, who legally changed his name to David Jones. Reuters conducted an investigation involving input from Banksy and his associates, interviews with insiders and experts, as well as the discovery of undisclosed US court documents and police reports in an effort to unveil the artist.

In response to Reuters’ inquiry, Banksy’s longtime attorney, Mark Stephens, disputed many details and expressed that Banksy denies the accuracy of the information. Allegedly, Banksy urged Reuters not to release the report, citing concerns about privacy invasion, potential disruption to his art, and threats to his safety.

Banksy is believed to have been born in the early 1970s at Bristol Maternity Hospital. He gained prominence in the 1990s through his stencil-based artworks in Bristol, later expanding his creations to various British cities and globally.

Now recognized as one of the world’s most prominent street artists, Banksy’s pieces have fetched high prices, including the infamous shredding incident at a 2018 Sotheby’s auction where his artwork, Girl With A Balloon, sold for £1,042,000 before self-destructing. The shredded piece, renamed Love is in the Bin, was auctioned again three years later, selling for £18,582,00.