Banksy Announces Series of New Works

The famous street artist known as Banksy recently announced a new painting on another wall along a street in London. The image is of a rhinoceros that appears to be climbing on top of a real car parked in front of the mural.

The work is part of a new series of animal-centered murals that Banksy has created in the British capital. The collection includes paintings of elephants, a goat, a wolf, pelicans and more.

The secretive artist, who has never confirmed his official identity, has been announcing the new work on his Instagram social media page.

One of the pieces shows a group of the sharp-toothed fish called piranhas. That piece was painted on a police emergency call box near the Central Criminal Court, known as the Old Bailey.

A small crowd of people gathered near that artwork recently, taking photographs as some city workers placed barriers around it. A spokesman for the city government said it is considering how to preserve the work.

Another recent work is of pelicans eating fish. The mural was painted above the sign of a fish market in east London. Another Banksy painting appeared on a satellite dish. It showed a wolf, mouth open and head pointed up, as if howling.

However, that artwork did not remain in place long. A video posted online shows three men removing the piece and carrying it away hours after Banksy announced its existence.

Banksy began his career by spray-painting buildings in Bristol, England. He has since become one of the world's best-known artists. His work has sold for millions of dollars.

I'm John Russell.

John Russell adapted this story from an Associated Press report.

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rhinoceros – n. a large mammal of Africa and Asia that has one or two upright horns and thick skin with little hair

pelican – n. a kind of large fish-eating bird with a very large bill

preserve – v. to keep safe from harm or damage

spray-paint – v. to paint (something) with paint that is sprayed from a can