UMVA has learned that a mysterious vandal, dubbed "Bumksy," has been leaving his mark on London's streets with a string of graffiti artworks, including a recent piece that has been described as a "stinky message" spray-painted on a wall in Uxbridge Road, Shepherds Bush.
The vandal, caught on camera, took time to admire his work and even lit a cigarette, seemingly satisfied with his creation. The graffiti, which has sparked debate among locals about its artistic merit, has been removed by council officers.
Hammersmith and Fulham council has appealed for anyone who knows the identity of the tagger to come forward, posting a clip on social media and urging people to contact Crimestoppers. But commenters on the post were less than helpful, with one writing: "Omg. The man, the myth, the legend. I've seen that tag absolutely everywhere in London."
Others were more tongue-in-cheek, suggesting that the graffiti was so good it belonged in the Louvre, or jokingly proposing that the culprit might be found by checking yoga classes in the area. The debate highlights the blurred lines between vandalism and street art.
This latest artwork has drawn comparisons to the work of the elusive artist Banksy, whose London graffiti has become a sensation. One of Banksy's famous pieces, featuring two children lying down in winter clothing and pointing up at the sky, appeared in Tottenham Court Road in late 2025 and has been seen by thousands.
Another piece, outside the High Court in London, depicted a judge wielding a gavel and attacking an unarmed person on the floor who held a sign covered in blood. The artwork was quickly boarded up and scrubbed off the walls, with police launching an investigation into criminal damage.
Banksy's animal-themed artworks also appeared throughout London in 2024, including a howling wolf on a satellite dish, which was stolen, and two pelicans eating fish in Walthamstow, which remains to this day, protected by clear Perspex.
The search for Bumksy, and the debate about his art, continues. As one commenter put it: "Maybe check all the yoga classes in the area and check who farted?" The question on everyone's mind: who is behind these provocative works of art?
