Banksy, the mysterious British street artist known for his rebellious graffiti, has painted a powerful new mural on the walls of the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The mural, placed on the Queen’s Building side of the court, shows a judge in a traditional wig and gown hitting a protester with a gavel. The protester is lying on the ground, holding a placard stained with red paint that looks like blood.
Early Monday morning, Banksy confirmed it was his work through an Instagram post featuring two photos of the mural. His caption was simple: ‘Royal Courts Of Justice. London.’
The artwork was covered within a few hours
However, the artwork didn’t stay visible for long. Within hours of being spotted, the piece was covered with large black plastic sheets and blocked with metal barriers. Security guards were stationed at the site, directly under a CCTV camera, to keep people away.
The quick decision to conceal the mural angered many online, with critics saying it perfectly proved Banksy’s point about censorship.
One person wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “One hour after Banksy mocked the courts for censoring people, the courts censored his work. They proved his point perfectly.” Another added: “They silenced a piece of art that was literally about censorship. You can’t make this up.”
The protest connection
The mural came out just a day after nearly 900 people were arrested during protests against the UK government’s ban on Palestine Action, a campaign group known for targeting companies linked to Israel. Many observers see the mural as Banksy’s way of responding to the crackdown on protest.
Banksy often uses his art as a way to talk about politics and social issues. His graffiti has taken aim at war, government surveillance, and consumerism, and it always sparks debate.
Elon Musk reacts
Adding to the buzz, billionaire Elon Musk also reacted to the mural. Responding to posts on X, he wrote: “The more they try to cover it up, the more it will appear.” In another reply, he agreed with a user who described the piece as ‘extremely powerful.’
Musk’s comments fuelled further discussion, with many netizens noting how attempts to erase the artwork may have only made it more famous.
Accurate https://t.co/l9LwHlPXMF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 8, 2025
The Streisand effect in action
People on social media compared it to the ‘Streisand effect,’ which is when trying to hide something only makes it more popular. One person wrote: ‘By covering the mural, they’ve only made more people curious. Banksy wins again.’
Banksy’s history of disappearing art
This isn’t the first time Banksy’s work has been removed or hidden shortly after it appeared. Last summer, his animal-themed series across London made headlines with pieces like piranhas painted inside a police sentry box, a gorilla lifting a shutter at London Zoo, and a rhino climbing onto a silver car. Many of those works vanished within hours, but not before sparking worldwide attention.
Though the Royal Courts of Justice mural is now concealed behind plastic sheets, its message has already spread far beyond the walls of the building. If anything, the cover-up has made Banksy’s statement louder, fuelling conversations about free speech, censorship, and the role of art in holding power.
