banksy’s ‘the migrant child’ removed from venice palazzo
In Venice’s Santa Croce district, Zaha Hadid Architects will lead the restoration of Banksy’s mural, The Migrant Child (Naufrago Bambino), and the redevelopment of the Palazzo San Pantalon. Located just above the waterline on the canal-facing wall of the 17th-century palazzo, the mural had suffered severe deterioration since its appearance during the 2019 Venice Biennale. This summer, it was delicately removed by art conservator Federico Borgogni, initiating a long-term conservation process funded by the building’s new owner, Banca Ifis.
The mural depicts a child in a life vest holding a pink smoke flare. It is one of only two works officially attributed to Banksy in Italy. Fading from years of tide-driven exposure and saltwater erosion, roughly thirty percent of the painting had been lost.
image courtesy Zaha Hadid Architects
zaha hadid architects leads landmark restoration
The Banksy mural’s preservation by Zaha Hadid Architects coincides with a broader overhaul of the Venice palazzo. Banca Ifis acquired the building in 2024 and selected ZHA, in collaboration with local firm Th&Ma Architettura, to lead its transformation into a contemporary exhibition space. Palazzo San Pantalon was once derelict and closed to the public. The redevelopment plan emphasizes public access and integration with the Venice Biennale’s programming, establishing it as a permanent home for young and emerging artists.
The section of wall was detached using angle grinders and hand tools from a barge, then transported to a laboratory. Borgogni will now stabilize and reposition the image on a honeycomb support, preserving its current state and avoiding full reconstruction of damaged areas.
image via @banksy
contemporary art and historic architecture revived
The choice to remove Banksy’s The Migrant Child in Venice sparked debate over the ethics of relocating street art. For Banca Ifis, the decision is framed by a responsibility to the artwork’s message, its material vulnerability, and the city’s cultural future. Once restored, the mural will be exhibited publicly as part of free cultural programming, although it remains undecided whether it will return to its original facade.
Zaha Hadid Architects’ involvement introduces a distinctly contemporary layer to the site’s evolution. Known mainly for its sculptural and futuristic design language, the studio’s intervention at San Pantalon represents a rare instance of its work being woven into Venice’s historical fabric.
Banksy’s original intention for The Migrant Child was a comment on migration and humanitarian crisis. As Palazzo San Pantalon becomes a platform for contemporary art, the mural’s restoration speaks to the role of architecture in framing public discourse. Through the combined efforts of conservators and architects, a decaying wall painting is becoming the center of a renewed cultural landmark.
image via Wikimedia Commons
project info:
artwork name: The Migrant Child (Naufrago Bambino)
artist: Banksy
location: Palazzo San Pantalon, Venice, Italy
restoration architect: Zaha Hadid Architects, Th&Ma Architettura
art conservator: Federico Borgogni
building owner: Banca Ifis
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