Who is the mysterious artist behind the 'Banksy'-like Dorothy artwork in Birmingham’s Gay Village?

In the early hours of the morning, a new piece of artwork appeared on the side of the Gay Village bar, Sidewalk, in Birmingham.

The mural, which depicts the character Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, has sparked a wave of speculation.

The mural shows a shoeless Dorothy reaching for her iconic ruby high-heels, which have been hung over a nearby electric cable.

The artwork, which appeared overnight, has been the subject of much discussion and speculation.

What are the speculations surrounding the artwork?

The sudden appearance and the distinctive style of the artwork led to rumours that it might be the work of the renowned graffiti artist Banksy.

Birmingham-based art critic Ruth Millington said that the artwork bears ‘all the hallmarks’ of an original Banksy piece.

“I think the timing is quite interesting too, we’re hearing a lot about the city’s cultural scene and the cuts it’s facing - and this could be Banksy drawing attention to that. For me it’s got all the elements a Banksy would have, whereas copycat artwork tends to not include all of these elements together.

“There’s clearly thinking behind this artwork.”

Is the artist confirmed to be Banksy?

However, a spokesman for Banksy has confirmed that the mural was not created by the artist.

The artist behind the artwork remains unknown.

Despite this, the artwork has still caused a ‘media frenzy’.

Phil Oldershaw, director of Sidewalk, said they were alerted to the mural’s appearance this morning on the side of their property. He plans to protect it with Perspex, regardless of its origin.

What impact has the artwork made?

Regardless of the artist’s identity, the mural has certainly made an impact.

It has drawn attention to Birmingham’s cultural scene and the challenges it currently faces.

The artwork’s location in the Gay Village and the use of Dorothy’s red shoes, which carry associations with gay and queer culture, add another layer of significance.

Its sudden appearance and the speculation around the mysterious Dorothy artwork’s origin have captured the city’s imagination, and has added a touch of intrigue and colour to Birmingham’s Gay Village.

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