NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Several high-profile guests recently gathered in New Orleans for a special art reveal, including Anna Delvey, the infamous socialite and subject of Netflix’s Invent Anna.
The event celebrated the restoration of an original Banksy mural that had been repainted. Known for his thought-provoking street art, Banksy left sixteen murals in New Orleans in 2008, but over time the original stencils gradually disappeared from the cityscape.
‘It’s biting humor. He is a rebel and has something to say,” said New Orleans hotelier Sean Cummings. “Essentially, Banksy said, ‘New Orleans matters. Those people matter.’”
In 2021, New Orleans native Cummings received an anonymous message from a man named Sam, claiming he had the original “boy on a life preserver” mural salvaged from a demolition site on Claiborne Avenue.
“The artist is trying to say something about the innocence of children and childhood, that he should play on a tire swing. Because of the Katrina disaster, it was a lifeline,” Cummings said. “Moreover, it is sticking a finger in the eyes of authority and questioning the establishment, as he always does.”
After the piece was authenticated with the help of conservationist Elise Grenier, Cummings purchased it, even though it was obscured by red spray paint. “I like challenges, but I thought, holy… this is impossible,” he said.
Grenier and her team used a special gel mixture, created by an Italian chemist, to restore the mural.
The mural was reassembled as a wall on a rolling base and was unveiled Friday evening, November 1, in the lobby of the International House Hotel.
When asked about her thoughts on the play, Delvey told Fox 8, “It’s, I think, about strength and perseverance.” She also shared her excitement about the event, noting, “I have been approved by ICE to travel here just like last week. It’s my first time in New Orleans and I’m so excited to explore the city and its culture.”
Cummings added that the artwork reflects the passage of time. “It shows the patina of time – how time, weather and climate affect New Orleans,” he said.
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