A faded fresco of Banksy In Venice it was removed from a building for rehabilitation. Titled ‘Migrant Child’ (Child immigrant); The project depicts a child with a life jacket holding a pink tobacco flare. He appeared without warning at Palazzo San Pantalon during the 2019 Venice Biennale and was later claimed by Banksy and became an unofficial tourist attraction along the Rio di San Pantalon.

The removal from the wall of the building was carried out in consultation with people near the British street art artist, who keeps his identity secret.

By 2023, water damage and salt exposure had begun to erode the fresco, pushing the Italian Ministry of Culture to propose rehabilitation and criticize artists, organizations and even some art historians. ‘Banksy was not a fool’ Evyrein street artist then told Euronews. “He knew that his creation next to the water was not meant to last. Its recovery is opposed to the data ». Others requested a consultation with the artist or the local community before intervening, arguing that the wear of the work was part of his meaning.

Last week, a group of conservationists led by Federico Borgoni removed a portion of the wall of the building, in which the work is painted. The project was funded by Banca IFIS, a Bank based in Venice, which promotes art and culture, which stated that it was consulted “close” to Banksy, but did not confirm its immediate approval.