John Barelli, head of security at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 2001 to 2016, revealed that Banksy illicitly installed a painting at the museum in 2005 with the help of three accomplices who distracted guards. The work, titled 'Last Breath' and depicting a woman in a gas mask, was affixed to a wall with a placard claiming it was a donation. Banksy later requested its return, but Barelli told The New Yorker that the museum had thrown it out—though he admitted to taking it himself upon retirement, saying he might sell it if he needs money.
This story matters because it highlights the ongoing tension between street art and institutional authority, as well as the blurred lines between vandalism, donation, and theft. Barelli's admission raises ethical and legal questions about museum stewardship and the fate of unauthorized artworks, while also underscoring Banksy's enduring ability to provoke and infiltrate elite art spaces.