London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Wednesday, Sep 03, 2025

Nottingham's Banksy artwork: 'We needed something like this'

Nottingham's Banksy artwork: 'We needed something like this'

On Saturday Banksy confirmed a new piece of graffiti on a residential street off Nottingham city centre was by him. By Sunday, the queue to snap a photo of the world-famous artist's work stretched down the road and around the corner.

"Nottingham needed something like this," says Jasinya Powell.

It is the first piece of famous art the 39-year-old care assistant has ever seen in real life. She, like many, was so excited when she drove past she swung the car round to grab a photo.

"I couldn't believe it was genuine at first - it looked like one, but a Banksy, on Ilkeston Road?

"I'm really really happy it was real. He's obviously seen something in this city... it is really uplifting."


Jasinya Powell says she would like to say "thanks babes" to Banksy for what he has done


When we met by the painting on Thursday - before the elusive artist had claimed the work as his - there was just a small crowd.

By Sunday hundreds were pouring in from all across Nottingham and further afield, bringing their dogs, children and cameras.

People were stopping their cars in the middle of the road just to jump out and take a photo, others had formed an orderly and (largely) socially distanced queue.

Many told me they were not that "into" art, but were nevertheless excited and proud the city had been chosen by Banksy, and they wanted to be part of it.

As one woman, who had brought her three young children with her, said to me: "It's once in a lifetime, isn't it?"


The queue for to see the artwork stretched around the road


The city has been in the news recently for having the highest rate of coronavirus infections in England.

A letterbox just metres away from the work made headlines last week when it became so filled with Covid tests more deliveries had to be put on.

Everyone I spoke to said how pleased they were Nottingham was "finally" getting some good publicity.

But there was also a feeling Banksy may have been tapping into something more fundamental.

The street the artwork is painted on is in Lenton/Radford area, which within living memory was a hub of industry for big names like bicycle-maker Raleigh.

But many of these traditional big employers have gone bust or moved away. Whether or not it was deliberate, some have seen the broken bike in the artwork as a nod to this.


Natty B says the art is "bringing people together"


Natty B, a 59-year-old fitness instructor who was brought up in the area, says he can remember playing with discarded bike parts just as the hula-hooping girl is in the artwork.

He said: "He has seen the local heritage - this artwork is Nottingham. I'm amazed and overwhelmed it is here.

"But then again why shouldn't a corner of Radford deserve a piece of international art?"

Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Google Avoids Break-Up in U.S. Antitrust Case as Stocks Rise
Couple celebrates 80th wedding anniversary at assisted living facility in Lancaster
Information Warfare in the Age of AI: How Language Models Become Targets and Tools
The White House on LinkedIn Has Changed Their Profile Picture to Donald Trump
"Insulted the Prophet Muhammad": Woman Burned Alive by Angry Mob in Niger State, Nigeria
Trump Responds to Death Rumors – Announces 'Missile City'
Court of Appeal Allows Asylum Seekers to Remain at Essex Hotel Amid Local Tax Boycott Threats
Germany in Turmoil: Ukrainian Teenage Girl Pushed to Death by Illegal Iraqi Migrant
United Krack down on human rights: Graham Linehan Arrested at Heathrow Over Three X Posts, Hospitalised, Released on Bail with Posting Ban
Asian and Middle Eastern Investors Avoid US Markets
Ray Dalio Warns of US Shift to Autocracy
Eurozone Inflation Rises to 2.1% in August
Russia and China Sign New Gas Pipeline Deal
China's Robotics Industry Fuels Export Surge
Suntory Chairman Resigns After Police Probe
Gold Price Hits New All-Time Record
Von der Leyen's Plane Hit by Suspected Russian GPS Interference in an Incident Believed to Be Caused by Russia or by Pro-Peace or by Anti-Corruption European Activists
UK Fintechs Explore Buying US Banks
Greece Suspends 5% of Schools as Birth Rate Drops
Apollo to Launch $5 Billion Sports Investment Vehicle
Bolsonaro Trial Nears Close Amid US-Brazil Tension
European Banks Push for Lower Cross-Border Barriers
Poland's Offshore Wind Sector Attracts Investors
Nvidia Reveals: Two Mystery Customers Account for About 40% of Revenue
Woody Allen: "I Would Be Happy to Direct Trump Again in a Film"
Pickles are the latest craze among Generation Z in the United States.
Deadline Day Delivers Record £125m Isak Move and Donnarumma to City
Nestlé Removes CEO Laurent Freixe Following Undisclosed Relationship with Subordinate
Giuliani Seriously Injured in Accident – Trump to Award Him the Presidential Medal of Freedom
EU is getting aggressive: Four AfD Candidates Die Unexpectedly Ahead of North Rhine-Westphalia Local Elections
Lula and Putin Hold Strategic BRICS Discussions Ahead of Trump–Putin Summit
WhatsApp is rolling out a feature that looks a lot like Telegram.
Investigations Reveal Rise in ‘Sex-for-Rent’ Listings Across Canada Exploiting Vulnerable Tenants
Chinese and Indian Leaders Pursue Amity Amid Global Shifts
European Union Plans for Ukraine Deployment
ECB Warns Against Inflation Complacency
Concerns Over North Cyprus Casino Development
Shipping Companies Look Beyond Chinese Finance
Rural Exodus Fueling European Wildfires
China Hosts Major Security Meeting
Chinese Police Successfully Recover Family's Savings from Livestream Purchases
Germany Marks a Decade Since Migrant Wave with Divisions, Success Stories, and Political Shifts
Liverpool Defeat Arsenal 1–0 with Szoboszlai Free-Kick to Stay Top of Premier League
Prince Harry and King Charles to Meet in First Reunion After 20 Months
Chinese Stock Market Rally Fueled by Domestic Investors
Israeli Airstrike in Yemen Kills Houthi Prime Minister
Ukrainian Nationalist Politician Andriy Parubiy Assassinated in Lviv
Corporate America Cuts Middle Management as Bosses Take On Triple the Workload
Parents Sue OpenAI After Teen’s Death, Alleging ChatGPT Encouraged Suicide
Amazon Faces Lawsuit Over 'Buy' Label on Digital Streaming Content
×