Overnight, a mural appeared in Birmingham’s Gay Village featuring Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz reaching for a pair of ruby high-heels on an electric cable, sparking speculation that it could be a Banksy creation. The owner of the bar where the mural was painted, Phil Oldershaw, expressed excitement over the artwork and planned to protect it with a clear cover. Despite hopes that it was a Banksy piece, Banksy’s team denied involvement in the mural, disappointing art enthusiasts. The identity of the artist behind the Dorothy mural remains unknown, and the last confirmed Banksy artwork was spotted in Finsbury Park, North London in March.
The Dorothy-themed mural depicting the iconic character reaching for ruby slippers on a wire has drawn attention and admiration from locals in Birmingham and across the UK. Phil Oldershaw, who runs the Sidewalk bar, discovered the mural after it mysteriously appeared overnight, prompting him to take measures to protect the artwork. Despite its Banksy-like appearance, the elusive street artist’s team confirmed that Banksy was not responsible for the creation of the mural in Birmingham’s Gay Village. This revelation dashed hopes of the artwork being a unique Banksy piece, leaving the true artist behind the painting a mystery.
Banksy’s response with a concise statement of eight words ended speculations that the Dorothy mural in Birmingham was one of his creations. The artist’s previous known work in Birmingham dates back to 2019 when a mural with two reindeer shedding light on homelessness was displayed in the Jewellery Quarter. Unfortunately, that piece was vandalized shortly after its unveiling. The appearance of the Dorothy mural coincided with the removal of a tribute mural to poet Benjamin Zephaniah in another part of Birmingham, highlighting the transient nature of street art and the challenges of preserving public artworks.
While the mystery around the identity of the artist behind the Dorothy mural lingers, Banksy’s confirmation of non-involvement has put an end to speculation linking him to the Birmingham artwork. The sudden appearance of the mural in the Gay Village adds to the city’s vibrant street art culture, albeit with its origins shrouded in mystery. The disappointment of the locals in not having a genuine Banksy piece contrasts with the excitement generated by the mural’s artistic content and thematic relevance to the setting.
