A London builder has dismissed rumours that he is the elusive street artist Banksy, telling those who make the claims to “grow up and get a life”. George Georgiou, a Greek-born builder, has been repeatedly mistaken for the anonymous artist after he was seen installing Perspex around a Banksy artwork that appeared in North London in 2024.
The mural appeared overnight on Hornsey Road, near Finsbury Park, in March 2024. Georgiou was spotted trying to protect the piece, leading to comparisons with Robin Gunningham, who was first named as Banksy by The Mail On Sunday in 2008. A recent investigation by Reuters claimed Gunningham is “beyond dispute” the artist.
Speaking to The Daily Mail, Georgiou said: “I’m not Banksy… It’s really annoying, it’s ridiculous and it’s disturbing. The first day, it was a laugh. It’s a bit of an old joke now.” He explained he was putting up Perspex as a favour to his sons, who own the building.
Georgiou added: “Grow up. Get a life. If Banksy were to be found, he wouldn’t be standing there [putting Perspex up the next day]. I’m sure he is well enough endowed not to have to go there doing building work. He runs in, does what he does and then sods off and disappears. That’s why no one knows who he is.”
He dismissed the resemblance to Gunningham and said the speculation is disrupting his work. “It’s just really annoying because I’m still working. It’s disrupting my day endlessly,” he said. “It’s just a pain in the butt.”
Georgiou also criticised the mural itself, saying: “It’s a bit of graffiti at the end of the day… It looks bloody horrible. Just get rid of it.” The artwork, which depicts a tree crown as green paint drips, was confirmed by Banksy on Instagram.
