Banksy claims new Valentine's Day mural in Bristol as his work

The elusive street artist has confirmed he is behind a new mural in his home city

A suspected new mural by artist Banksy is pictured in Marsh Lane in Bristol, Britain, February 13, 2020. REUTERS/Rebecca Naden

Banksy has claimed a new Valentine’s Day mural that appeared in the English city of Bristol as his work.

Stencilled on the side of a house in Bristol’s Barton Hill, the work depicts a young girl firing roses from a sling shot, forming an explosive floral pattern metres above. A small handful of flowers were also left draped strategical over a street sign below, mimicking dripping paint.

While there was plenty of speculation that the work was that of Banksy, who hails from Bristol, the artist did not comment when it first appeared in the early hours of Thursday, February 13.

However, overnight, the elusive street artist confirmed he was behind the mural, sharing a captionless shot of the work with his 7.2 million followers.

Hundreds have already flocked to see the so far nameless mural, with pictures flooding Instagram and Twitter.

It is the latest in a string of seasonal works from the artist, who revealed a Christmas-themed piece in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in December.

The piece highlighted the plight of homeless people in the city, and was shared by the artist alongside a video telling the story of a man named Ryan, who was photographed sleeping on a bench that looked to be pulled by Banksy’s stencilled reindeer.