Banksy’s “Valentine’s Day Mascara” Artwork Returns to Margate

The Banksy artwork known as “Valentine’s day mascara,” which first emerged in Margate last year, has now come back to the town. This piece is currently accessible for public viewing without charge at Hornby Hobbies’ The WonderWorks, following its exhibition period at various galleries in London. The mural, initially discovered on the exterior of a Margate residence on Valentine’s Day 2023, portrays a 1950s housewife exhibiting a swollen eye and a missing tooth, seemingly enclosing a man within a freezer. Olly Raeburn, the CEO of Hornby Hobbies, commented that the artwork holds a “special place” in Margate’s heart. Initially, the artwork was exhibited at Dreamland theme park within the town. Prior to its current re-arrival in Margate, it had been showcased at Yamaha Music London and Yield Gallery in the capital. This creation by the Bristol artist received a valuation of £6m, and the public was presented with an opportunity to acquire shares in the mural. Individuals possessing one of the 27,000 shares, each priced at £120, qualified for advantages such as limited edition prints.