Two new Banksy artworks have appeared in London just ahead of Christmas, depicting two children lying on the pavement, gazing up at the sky as the city faces a growing youth homelessness crisis.
The artist confirmed the work on Instagram today after reports emerged of two identical murals appearing at separate locations across the capital. One mural was spotted in Queens Mews, Bayswater, while the second appeared near the Centre Point tower in central London.
The black-and-white stencil shows two children dressed in winter coats, hats and wellington boots, lying head-to-toe on cold concrete. One child stretches out an arm, pointing upward toward an unseen star, a gesture often associated with hope, dreams, or making a wish.
The choice of locations adds a powerful layer of meaning. Centre Point has long been associated with London’s housing inequality and lends its name to Centrepoint, the UK charity supporting homeless young people. Once infamous for standing empty during a housing crisis, the tower has become a symbol of urban imbalance.
The Bayswater mural, by contrast, appears in a residential area on an abandoned building, where surrounding street elements seem to visually “complete” the work… a recurring tactic in Banksy’s site-specific practice.
The murals arrive during the festive season, a time typically linked to warmth, generosity and celebration. Yet for thousands of young people across the UK, winter is marked by insecurity, lack of shelter and exposure to harsh conditions. Against this backdrop, the children’s simple act of lying on the street becomes deeply unsettling.
Banksy has not issued an official statement or title for the works. However, many viewers interpret the murals as a reflection on youth homelessness, social invisibility and the fragile line between hope and neglect. The upward gaze, while tender, also suggests uncertainty, a wish cast into a city that may not respond.
Banksy Wish upon a Star Mural
As with much of Banksy’s street art, their possible removal or deterioration only reinforces the message: the lives they reference are often just as precarious.
In a city illuminated by Christmas lights, these murals quietly ask an uncomfortable question… who is left lying unseen on the pavement, still wishing for something as basic as shelter?