A striking Banksy artwork featuring piranhas that captivated London last summer is set to become a centerpiece at the London Museum's new location. The piece, which transformed a police sentry box into what appeared to be a fish tank filled with razor-toothed piranhas, was one of nine animal-themed works the mysterious street artist installed across the British capital over nine consecutive days in August 2024.
The artwork appeared overnight on August 11, 2024, painted on the windows of a police box located in London's financial district on Ludgate Hill. At first glance, the mural seemed to show a harmless school of fish swimming inside the booth, effectively turning the police structure into an aquarium. However, closer inspection revealed the fish were actually piranhas with serrated teeth, creating a more sinister impression.
Art critics interpreted the piece as a clever reference to Damien Hirst's famous pickled shark artwork, repositioned here as commentary on surveillance and policing in modern society. The work quickly became a sensation among both tourists and locals, who flocked to photograph and take selfies with the transformed police box.
The City of London Corporation moved swiftly to remove the booth from its original location, according to the BBC. Officials first placed it on public display at Guildhall Yard, allowing visitors to continue viewing the artwork before eventually moving it into secure storage. The piece will make its next public appearance in 2026 at the London Museum's new home in Smithfield, as part of a massive $280 million relocation project expected to attract two million visitors annually.
Glyn Davies, head of curatorial at the London Museum, told the BBC that the acquisition represents the breadth of the institution's collection. "Our collection now spans from Roman graffiti to Banksy," Davies explained, highlighting how the museum bridges ancient and contemporary urban art forms.
Among Banksy enthusiasts and art watchers, the piranha piece emerged as the clear favorite from the nine-work series. The collection included monkeys swinging from a bridge, elephants peering through windows in Chelsea, and a rhinoceros appearing to mount a Nissan Micra. The piranha work stood out for its vibrant colors, strategic placement, and multiple layers of meaning and cultural references.
Kelly Grovier, author of an upcoming book about Banksy, praised the work's sophistication, describing it as "a ghostly shoal of ghoulish piranhas that rehabilitates Hirst's now-blunted shark." This assessment reflects how the piece both honors and updates one of contemporary art's most iconic works.
The broader animal-themed series briefly transformed London into what observers called a "zoological guessing game." Each morning throughout August 2024, social media users, particularly on Instagram, eagerly speculated about the meaning behind the latest overnight appearance. The series included a wolf howling from a satellite dish, pelicans appearing to loot a fish shop sign, and a goat positioned precariously over Kew Bridge.
The temporary nature of street art added to the excitement surrounding each piece. Half the appeal lay in the public speculation and interpretation of each work's meaning, while the other half involved watching how long the artworks would survive before being damaged by vandals, covered by rival graffiti artists, or removed by local authorities. This race against time is a characteristic element of Banksy's street art, which often disappears as quickly as it appears.
The London Museum's acquisition of the piranha piece represents a significant moment in the institutional recognition of street art. When the museum opens its new Smithfield location in 2026, visitors will be able to see how contemporary guerrilla art fits within the broader context of London's artistic and cultural history, from ancient Roman inscriptions to cutting-edge modern works.
