‘Travesty’ after iconic Banksy piece stripped from London building

Builders have ripped a beloved Banksy artwork form the walls of a west London building.

Local residents have been left heartbroken after the iconic image of a goat perched on top of a wall was taken down by workmen over the last week.

The artwork had been sprayed onto the side of a gun factory building near Kew Gardens last August.

The building’s owners, Boss and Company, decided to remove the art for refurbishment works ‘essential for the long-term future of the property’.

The final destination of the painting is not known, and it is currently in the care of Fine Art Restoration Company.

Kew residents are mourning the loss of an artwork that had become ‘a part of the community.’

Catherine Jago, 68, told the Daily Mail: ‘We understand that it needs to be removed for the building work, but our concern is that it is going to disappear and not return to the place where Banksy put it.

‘It’s not just an attraction here in Kew – it gives you a smile every time you go past. Every time I go past there’s this nice feeling as we see our Banksy there.

The spray painted goat had been one in a series of animal sketches unveiled last summer by the anonymous artist.

Another was a gorilla, painted onto the walls of London Zoo.

The piece was also removed by zoo officials, this time for ‘safekeeping’.

In a statement, the owners of the building said: ‘As part of a long-planned and carefully considered refurbishment of 110 Kew Green, which commenced last year, structural works will begin this week.

‘These works, which include the addition of another floor and a new roof following the granting of planning permission, are essential for the long-term future of the property.

‘The owners recognise the cultural significance of The Goat, a piece by the renowned British artist Banksy, and appreciate the community’s interest in and affection for the artwork.

‘Given the scale of the construction, the decision has been made to carefully remove the artwork to ensure its conservation and protection during the redevelopment process.

‘The removal and conservation will be carried out by specialist art conservators with expertise in preserving street art, ensuring that the piece remains intact and safeguarded. 

‘Once the redevelopment is complete, the owners will explore options for its future display so that it can continue to be appreciated.

‘The owners thank the community for their understanding and support as these essential works take place and remain committed to respecting the cultural significance of the artwork.’

Chris Bull, of Fine Art Restoration, added in a statement: ‘We have worked on lots of Banksys over the last 12 years and each one is always very interesting and very enjoyable – equally very challenging as well.

‘They’re always divisive. They always get the public’s interest up and people always want to know about it. 

‘To us it is about trying to do the best thing by the artwork, and also keep everyone’s expectations manage.’

Metro has contacted Boss and Company and Fine Art Restoration for comment.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.