Banksy’s “the migrant child” removed from venice wall for preservation

Art restorers have removed Banksy's deteriorating work "The Migrant Child" from the facade of Palazzo San Pantalon in Venice, Italy to preserve the artwork for future public display, as reported by various news outlets. The removal of the 2019 graffiti depicting a shipwrecked child wearing a lifejacket and holding a pink smoke bomb was carried out in consultation with people close to the secretive British street artist, with restoration being financed by Banca Ifis.

Banksy's Venice Biennale Appearance

In May 2019, Banksy made an unexpected appearance at the prestigious Venice Biennale despite never receiving an official invitation. The elusive street artist set up an impromptu stall in St. Mark's Square displaying a multi-panel work titled "Venice in Oil," which depicted massive cruise ships looming over Venice's fragile canals. This powerful commentary on overtourism and environmental threats to the floating city was captured in a video Banksy posted to Instagram with the caption: "Setting out my stall at the Venice Biennale. Despite being the largest and most prestigious art event in the world, for some reason I've never been invited."tourleadervenice+3

The guerrilla exhibition was short-lived as local police quickly asked the artist to pack up and leave. Beyond this unauthorized installation, Banksy also created "The Migrant Child" stencil along a Venetian canal, portraying a young refugee in a life jacket holding a pink flare. These interventions addressed multiple crises facing Venice and Europe: environmental degradation, overtourism from massive cruise ships, and the ongoing refugee situation, demonstrating Banksy's talent for combining art with pointed social commentary in unexpected public spaces.businessinsider+2

Deterioration of Canal-Facing Artwork

Venice's harsh environmental conditions proved formidable adversaries to Banksy's "Migrant Child" mural. Since its creation in 2019, the artwork suffered extensive deterioration due to "humidity, high water and salt" exposure, with approximately one-third of the piece damaged after six years of environmental assault. The mural's strategic placement along Rio Novo canal in Venice's university district—specifically on the lower portion of a building typically left unpainted due to constant splashing from passing boats—accelerated its decay.venicexplorer+2

The artwork's degradation sparked an intense debate within the art community. Some viewed the deterioration as an intentional element of Banksy's artistic vision, with street artist Evyrein noting, "Banksy was no fool; he was fully aware that his waterside creation wasn't meant to endure". Others saw poetic resonance in the mural's fragility, as it mirrored both the precarious existence of the refugees it portrayed and Venice's own vulnerability to climate change and rising sea levels. This deterioration ultimately prompted Italian authorities to intervene despite controversy, leading to the removal and planned restoration of the piece that many had come to see as an important part of Venice's contemporary artistic landscape.youtube+2

Federico Borgogni's Restoration Techniques

The rescue operation for Banksy's "The Migrant Child" was meticulously executed under the supervision of renowned art conservator Federico Borgogni, whose specialized techniques in contemporary art preservation were crucial to the project's success. Borgogni's restoration work followed a carefully structured approach, beginning with preliminary dust removal and surface cleaning to assess the mural's condition, followed by in-depth consolidation to stabilize the deteriorating sections. The complex process required detaching a section of the wall painting from its original location while preserving its integrity – a particularly challenging task given the artwork's exposure to Venice's harsh canal conditions.darientimes+1

The restoration project spanned nearly two months, commencing on June 3, 2025, and concluding during the night between July 23-24, 2025. Borgogni, who specializes in the conservation and restoration of contemporary artworks, brought his expertise in handling unconventional materials and techniques often employed by street artists like Banksy. His methodical approach included preparing the fragile mural for its eventual relocation and public display, carefully balancing the need to preserve the artwork's original character while stabilizing it against further deterioration – addressing the unique challenges presented by a piece created in an outdoor urban environment but intended for long-term preservation.instagram+1