Dennis RomeroLooks like the latest twist for British guerrilla artist Banksy is Friday night/Saturday morning vandalism for his attention-getting boy-with-a-gun piece in Westwood.
Teen singer Pia Mia, who has taken to serenading the work behind a Westwood Village Urban Outfitters, notified us of the damage and sent pictures.
The blog MELROSEandFAIRFAX notes that an “MBW” tag painted in red spray paint next to the piece corresponds with the moniker of another street artist, Mr. Brainwash, but doubts the painter was actually involved.
A hateful splash of paint for Banksy's Westwood piece.; Credit: Pia Mia
The piece appears to have had paint thrown on it.
Another Banksy piece, “Livin the Dream,” which reportedly could have been worth six figures, was ripped from a CBS Outdoor billboard above Sunset and Laurel Canyon boulevards Wednesday and crumpled into a ball.
We would assume the boy soldier vandalism happened sometime overnight, since it's seen so much daytime attention lately.
LAist reported Friday that Urban Outfitters is actually proud to have the artwork on the side of its store but that control over whether it stays or goes would ultimately be up to the building's owner.
MELROSEandFAIRFAX has taken to calling the piece “Crayon Soldier.”
The boy-soldier piece before the vandalism.; Credit: Ted Soqui
Banksy appears to be in town in the days before his Exit Through the Gift Shop will get a thumbs up or thumbs down for an Academy Award.
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