Banksy’s Well Hung Lover Mural Faces Uncertainty As Building Auctioned

One of Bristol’s most iconic and photographed Banksy artworks, “Well Hung Lover”, is about to enter a new chapter. The mural, painted in 2006 on the side of a building overlooking the city centre, will go under the hammer next year along with the property it adorns. However, the building’s sale comes with a strict condition: the artwork must remain intact and cannot be removed or sold separately. Best viewed from the bridge at the base of Park Street, the mural shows a naked man precariously holding onto a window ledge, a suited figure peering out of another window to look for him, and a lingerie-wearing woman looking at the scene in another window. At the time, the building that holds the artwork was home to a sexual health clinic. Directly opposite the headquarters of Bristol City Council, the mural’s bold placement and challenging subject matter immediately drew public attention. At the time, Bristol authorities were embroiled in an ongoing battle with graffiti artists. But Well Hung Lover was a tipping point. Instead of removing it, initially, the council decided to take an online vote among the people. In a landslide vote, 97% of the participants voted to retain the...