A Banksy piece, one of nine that graced London last summer, has been taken into storage in preparation for its future exhibition in a museum.

Titled ‘Piranhas’, this artwork features spray-painted fish on a police sentry box located in the City of London.

The City of London Corporation acted promptly to remove the box, placing it on display at the Guildhall where visitors could admire it from behind protective barriers.

Now, the sentry box is transitioning into storage as it awaits a permanent exhibition at the new Smithfield site of the London Museum, set to open in 2026.

The museum received the ‘Piranhas’ piece after the City of London Corporation voted to donate it to the institution.

Glyn Davies, the Head of Curatorial at the London Museum, remarked: “With the addition of Banksy’s Piranhas, our collection now encompasses everything from Roman graffiti to our inaugural contemporary street art piece.

“This artwork by one of the world’s preeminent artists now belongs to the people of London and will create a significant impact when showcased next year at the Museum’s new home in Smithfield.”

Previously known as the Museum of London, it permanently closed its London Wall location in December 2022 and will reopen in 2026 at Smithfield Market. The museum rebranded to London Museum in July 2024.

The City of London Corporation committed £222 million for the museum’s relocation, which is anticipated to draw two million visitors annually and generate over 1,500 jobs.

The sentry box, situated on Ludgate Hill since the 1990s, was moved to Guildhall Yard once Banksy confirmed his authorship of the piece.

This Banksy work showcases fierce fish depicted in an ‘aquarium’ on the box and is part of the artist’s animal-themed series displayed throughout the capital last summer.

During nine days in August 2024, nine pieces were unveiled, including a rhino on top of a car, two elephants reaching toward each other, and three monkeys swinging from a bridge.

Some artworks, such as a howling wolf on a satellite dish, were either removed, obscured, or vandalized after they were painted throughout the city.

Chris Hayward, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, stated: “When this piece appeared in the Square Mile, Banksy captured the attention of Londoners, and now we’re able to share it with millions.

“By securing it for the London Museum, we’re not only preserving a unique aspect of the City’s narrative but also introducing an artwork that will be among the museum’s main attractions.”