New graffiti art appearing in Glasgow not genuine Banksy

A piece of Banksy-style graffiti, which emerged on Wednesday and was promptly vandalised, is set to be removed after the artist’s team confirmed it is fake.

The piece, which features a rat, is the second to emerge in Glasgow since Banksy’s exhibition opened at the Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA) last week.

The design shows a rat with a Union jack bowler hat playing a broken drum with the phrase “God Save the King” written across it.

It was found on the walls of Springfield Court, a lane between Buchanan Street and Queen Street, just metres from the Gallery of Modern Art, where the Cut & Run exhibition is running.

Banksy’s team confirmed to STV News on Thursday that it was not a legitimate piece by the elusive street artist.

Glasgow City Council has since said the piece will be removed, after it was vandalised less than 24 hours after it emerged.

A spokeswoman told STV News: “This image will be removed. We understand that it is not by Banksy.

“Anyone who wants to be certain of viewing a true Banksy should head to the exhibition at GOMA.”

Earlier in the week, a tiny image of a rat holding a drill – one of Banksy’s signature tags – was spray-painted onto the edge of a lane off Queen Street.

However, it was reportedly stolen soon after it appeared, with the wooden panel featuring the artwork appearing to have been ripped from the wall.

Neither of the artworks appear on Banksy’s official website, Pest Control, which catalogues all of the artist’s genuine work.

Banksy, whose paintings frequently sell for millions, has used rats throughout their work – one even features in the branding for their Glasgow show.

Cut & Run is their first solo exhibition in 14 years and was announced last week.

It opened on Sunday and will run until August 28 in Glasgow’s GOMA.

The gallery sits just in front of one of the city’s most famous landmarks, Duke of Wellington statue, which has been wearing a cone on its head since the 1980s.