The piece, found spraypainted on the Rockwater Branksome restaurant on Wednesday morning, depicts a young girl holding two ice creams, offering one to a police officer.
Onlookers have debated whether if it’s a genuine Banksy piece and what message the artist is trying to convey, particularly over the colour of the ice creams.
Sam Taylor said: “I haven’t seen any Banksys in real life. I’ve just seen loads and loads of photos.
“It’s kind of his style.”
Banksy is a pseudonymous England-based street artist known for his satirical and subversive graffiti art, often featuring political and social commentary.
“I want to say yes, it’s real,” Sam said.
“I quite like the fact she’s giving an ice cream to the policeman.
“We have a real issue down here with a negative attitude towards the police, but I’m not sure it’s controversial enough.”
Others doubted if it is genuine, partly due to the fact Banksy’s mysterious identity.
Alex Gosney said: “I don’t know, it’s some enigma because he’s not in the public eye per se name wise.
“It’s quite a clever tactic that he’s managed to become famous for something that he’s not got his name behind.”
Sam said that she thought it would be “awesome” if it was a real Banksy.
“Banksy is cool and it would be cool if we actually had one” in Bournemouth she said.
Charlotte Temperton, who stumbled across the art, said she was unsure about it: “I don’t know what kind of message it’s trying to convey.
“Something about stopping and going, so to stop something? I don’t know.”
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Another onlooker said he did not “think it’s good enough,” noting that some of the paint had run and it wasn’t “tidy”.
This is the second time this year a potential Banksy-style has been identified in the area after a similar piece of art was spotted in Westcliffe in April.
Luke Davis of Rockwater said: “I was as surprised as anyone to discover this piece on our wall this morning.
“I’m a big fan of Banksy’s work, and if it is genuine, we are truly honoured.”
Rockwater is hosting Brighton’s Helm Gallery ‘Disruption’ exhibition display on Wednesday night which features Banksy works, prompting speculation about the authenticity of the surprise piece.
Eden Maseyk, founder and curator of the Helm Gallery in Hove, said: “The piece has all the markings of a Banksy work, but we would need a little more time to verify its authenticity.”
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