Banksy Creates Hilarious Mural for School Kids

The artist strikes again.

Students and faculty discovered the mural after retuning from vacation. Photo: Rebecca Radford (‏@RebeccaRadford7) via Twitter.

The elusive British street artist Banksy has reportedly given a special gift to schoolchildren by painting a 14-foot mural on a wall of a British elementary school in his hometown of Bristol.

According to the BBC, Banksy created the mural as a “present” to Bridge Farm Primary school, after the school named a building after him. A spokesman for the artist reportedly confirmed to the British broadcaster that the artwork was in fact created by the famous street artist.

Students and faculty discovered the work, which depicts a stick figure of a little girl spinning a burning tire, after returning from vacation.

On Twitter the BBC’s West of England correspondent Jon Kay reported that the school caretaker initially thought the artwork was an act of vandalism and wanted to “clean it off” after he discovered it.

It was only when he found a handwritten letter from the artist near the mural, complete with important advice and life lessons for the kids that he realized it was an original Banksy. The letter states:

“Dear Bridge Farm School, Thanks for your letter and naming a house after me, please have a picture. If you don’t like it feel free to add stuff, I’m sure the teachers won’t mind. Remember—its always easier to get forgiveness than permission. Much love, Banksy.”

Headteacher Geoff Mason said that the school intends to preserve the mural and insisted that there are “no plans to sell it.”

The reaction from the local community has largely been positive. Rebecca Redford, whose son is a pupil at Bridge Farm Primary took to Twitter to express her appreciation for the gift. “Heard there was an intruder in my sons [sic] school last night. Wasn’t so angry when I found out who it was ,” she wrote.

This isn’t the first time that Banksy has given local organizations in his hometown the gift of art. In April 2014, the artist painted a mural in a doorway near Broad Plain Boys’ Club, which was threatened with foreclosure. The club promptly sold it to a local collector for $670,000, raising enough money to keep its doors open.


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