According to our sources, the British artist Banksy did not choose Marseille at random for his latest creation. His recent visit to the city was also a tribute to a close friend who had recently passed away.
The message painted on the artwork—“I want to be what you saw in me”—takes on a far deeper and more sorrowful meaning in this context. This friend, also an artist, had been a mentor to Banksy, a well-informed source tells us. Through this powerful and deeply personal statement, Banksy is speaking directly to his departed friend.
The piece was likely created on Wednesday or Thursday. Banksy published the artwork on Instagram on Thursday, May 29. A creation like this requires preparation—particularly the design and cutting of the lighthouse-shaped stencil—so it’s highly likely the project had been planned in advance, possibly even before his arrival in Marseille.
Such personal messages from Banksy are rare. The artist is better known for his politically and socially charged works, often addressing war in Ukraine, environmental concerns, or critiques of consumerism. But with this first creation of 2025 in Marseille, he reveals a more intimate and vulnerable side of himself.
Although the Bristol-born artist has often stated that his works are meant to be reinterpreted and even hijacked, it’s unclear how he feels about this particular message—intended for his late friend—being crudely altered. During the night between Saturday and Sunday, the artwork was vandalized with a tag that transformed the original image into a pair of testicles.