Robin Loxley: Sheffield's 'Banksy' strikes again with excellent new elephant artwork in city

The Steel City’s answer to Banksy has created an intriguing new piece of street art, in which Lizzie the elephant who helped out with the war effort during WW1 is depicted.
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Located on the side of an abandoned building in Upper Allen Street in Netherthorpe, Robin Loxley’s brand new artwork shows a baby elephant and a mother elephant, the latter of whom’s trunk has been created using a chimney that was already in place.

The artist said he was inspired to create the street art after learning that Nellie the Elephant, made famous in a children’s song from the 1950s, left the circus because she had a baby. Robin Loxley said he wanted to recreate her ‘packing her trunk and saying good by to the circus’.

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The elephants are also a tribute to Sheffield’s Lizzie the elephant, who was put to work during World War One carting machinery, scrap metal and munitions around the city, a role which would have previously required at least three horses.

Robin Loxley's new artwork has appeared on the size of a derelict building in Upper Allen Street, NetherthorpeRobin Loxley's new artwork has appeared on the size of a derelict building in Upper Allen Street, Netherthorpe
Robin Loxley's new artwork has appeared on the size of a derelict building in Upper Allen Street, Netherthorpe

Robin Loxley said: “Art is in the eye of the beholder. But I think my people will love Nellie and her yet unnamed baby elephant.

“The use of the chimney as a creative touch.

“I picked the elephant as a tribute to Sheffield's elephant Lizzie that was at Thomas Wards during WW1 helping out the war efforts. Nellie on the other hand is making her way to freedom.”

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