Monday
The first of the Banksy artworks appeared on the side of a building near Kew Bridge in south-west London, depicting a mountain goat and falling rubble
Photograph: Benjamin Cremel/AFP/Getty Images
The Bristol-based street artist, whose identity is unknown, confirmed the pieces as genuine by posting photographs of them on his Instagram page, but did not caption any of them, fuelling speculation over their meaning
Photograph: Ray Tang/Anadolu/Getty Images
As the artist posted more images on his account, some social media users began calling the collection the ‘London zoo’ series and developed a theory that Banksy could be likening the recent far-right rioters to animals
Photograph: Ray Tang/Anadolu/Getty Images
Tuesday
The second official artwork, depicting two elephants, appeared on the side of a building at the junction of Edith Grove and Edith Terrace in Chelsea
Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
Paul Gough, the vice-chancellor of Arts University Bournemouth and author of Banksy: The Bristol Legacy, said it was quite unusual for the artist to trail a series of works in this way
Photograph: Mina Kim/Reuters
Wednesday
The third artwork, depicting three monkeys, appeared on a bridge in Brick Lane in the East End
Photograph: Lucy North/PA
Paul Gough added: ‘By releasing images quickly through the social media site he’s eliminated the “whodunnit” part of the process, which normally obsesses global media’
Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Thursday
The fourth artwork, depicting a howling wolf, appeared on a satellite dish in Peckham, south-east London
Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
The artwork was only briefly on display on the shop roof before it was stolen
Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
A number of past works by Banksy have been stolen, damaged or destroyed after going on display
Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
The theft cements the fact that Banksy is no longer just a street artist working in the shadows. His works have set numerous records at auction, including his seminal Love is in the Bin, which sold at Sotheby’s for £18.6m in 2021 and was described as the ‘pre-eminent artwork of the 21st century’
Photograph: Jordan Pettitt/PA
Friday
The fifth artwork appeared on the side of a fish and chip shop in Walthamstow, north-east London
Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA
Dr Isobel Harbison, a lecturer in critical studies at Goldsmiths, University of London, said: ‘The message might be about the environment, ecology or harmony between the built and natural world. If there is a message we need to glean from our environment this week in London, I think it should be one of acceptance and mutual respect’
Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images
Saturday
This big cat on Edgware Road in Cricklewood was confirmed as the latest Banksy artwork
Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer
Banksy hopes the uplifting works cheer people with a moment of unexpected amusement, as well as to gently underline the human capacity for creative play, rather than for destruction and negativity
Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer
Sunday
The seventh artwork to be released this week, depicting fish swimming around a police box, in the City of London
Photograph: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty Images
Monday
A new artwork depicting a rhinoceros climbing on top of a car on Westmoor Street in Charlton, south-east London
Photograph: Banksy/PA
People take photos on their phones of the rhino artwork in Charlton
Photograph: Matthew Chattle/Future Publishing/Getty Images
Tuesday
ZSL staff measure a mural of a gorilla freeing animals that adorns a wall at London Zoo. ZSL featured the work on its Instagram account, suggesting it was the handiwork of the elusive street artist
Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
Visitors to London Zoo photograph Banksy’s latest artwork
Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty Images
