Oscar street art watch: Banksy work spotted again in Los Angeles

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British graffiti street artist Banksy is continuing his assault on Los Angeles in advance of Sunday’s Academy Awards, where his film ‘Exit Through the Gift Shop’ is up for best documentary. The latest art piece has been found on Washington Boulevard at Compton Avenue, just east of the 110 Freeway and south of the 10.

The piece is titled ‘Crayon Foreclosure.’ According to a source, who asked not to be named, the art went up between late Sunday night and early Monday morning. It features flourishes similar to those in ‘Crayon Shooter,’ which the British artist put up in Westwood last week. (Note: A reader recently informed me that ‘Crayon Shooter’ was defaced with a small swastika on the kid’s face.)

According to Banksy’s website, it’s not his only new artwork in Los Angeles. He also seems to have tagged a giant water tank on Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica with the words, ‘It looks a bit like an elephant.’ In addition, he’s also spoofed the unique traffic signs that adorn Interstate 5 near San Diego that warn drivers to watch out for families -- presumably from south of the border -- crossing the multi-lane highway. Banksy’s version, called ‘Caution, Fun,’ features a running man, woman and child, only the man is holding a kite. The spray-painted work is located somewhere in East Los Angeles, but we don’t yet have a precise location.

With only a handful of days to go to the Oscars, the guy is clearly inspired. Perhaps he has something large-scale planned for the big night.

-- Nicole Sperling