3 minThe famous British street artist chose the streets of Marseille to unveil his latest work.
A mix of wonder, absurd hijacking and rapid restoration. A look back at a creation as discreet as it is powerful.
A fleeting appearance on the walls of Marseille
On May 30, 2025, Marseille wakes up to a major surprise: on the unassuming façade of a tunnel on rue Félix Frégier, just near Catalans Beach, a stencil signed by Banksy suddenly captures everyone's attention.
The world’s most famous and elusive street artist has left a dark lighthouse from which a white beam of light emerges. Accompanying it is a simple yet enigmatic phrase: "I want to be what you saw in me."
Source: @banksy
The artwork is quickly shared on social media, notably via Banksy’s official Instagram account where it’s posted without a caption, true to his signature style.
A lighthouse as an urban metaphor
The piece is striking both for its location and its symbolism. The lighthouse, a guardian figure of ports, becomes here a point of convergence between raw urbanity and inner light.
Some interpret it as a metaphor for the city of Marseille itself: rough, complex, yet undeniably radiant and full of humanity.
Source: @banksy
Others see in it a personal, almost intimate reflection on how we are seen by others, identity, and emotional projection. As often with Banksy, the message remains open to interpretation and invites multiple readings.
An absurd hijacking quickly erased
Just a few hours after its discovery, the artwork became the target of vandalism: two crudely painted purple shapes, resembling a pair of testicles, were added, disrupting the original image. A gratuitous and absurd act that sadly highlights the fragility of street art in public spaces.
Fortunately, a local artist intervened quickly to clean the mural and restore its full clarity. The original version was visible again the next day, with no major damage.
Marseille, a new home port for street art?
This artistic gesture by Banksy underscores Marseille’s growing role on the global street art scene. Already known for its monumental murals, alternative galleries, and vibrant art scene, the city continues to attract major names.
The intervention, though brief and unannounced, fits into a visual storytelling logic deeply connected to the urban environment. It adds a new chapter to the history of street art in Marseille, introducing the signature of an artist both committed and discreet.
A subtle message in the shadow of a streetlamp
The artwork stands out thanks to one striking detail: the lighthouse’s beam of light appears to extend the shadow cast by a nearby streetlamp, creating a stunning trompe-l'œil effect.
This fusion between the piece and its surroundings reveals the precision behind the intervention and Banksy’s ability to engage with real-world space.
Conclusion: Banksy, light in the urban gloom
By offering this lighthouse to Marseille, Banksy does more than sign a stencil. He questions the city, its poetry, its harshness, and the way we look at things. He infuses it with a fragile yet persistent light that continues to shine despite absurd or hostile acts.
And through the phrase "I want to be what you saw in me", perhaps he is inviting us to see better, to hope more deeply or simply to believe again in what art can reveal about ourselves.
Practical information
Location: Rue Félix Frégier, 7th arrondissement of Marseille (Catalans neighborhood)
Date of creation: late May 2025
