Created in 2002, Bird Grenade is one of Banksy’s early works exploring the contrast between innocence and violence. The piece features a small, cartoon-like bird clutching a hand grenade in its beak—a playful yet unsettling image that transforms a symbol of peace into one of danger.

By fusing light-hearted, almost childlike imagery with the menace of weaponry, Banksy delivers a sharp commentary on the fragility of peace and the ever-present threat of conflict. The choice of plasterboard, a humble building material, underlines his anti-establishment approach, bringing fine art out of traditional spaces and onto everyday surfaces.

As with much of Banksy’s work from this period, Bird Grenade reflects his ability to distil complex social and political critiques into simple, arresting visuals.