The British guerrilla artist Banksy, famous for his street graffiti and for his pranks that target known museums like the British Museum or major art galleries in London and New York has opened his first major US exhibition in the US on Friday.

'Barely Legal' included a display that drew the anger of animal campaigners, as the artist chose to place a real life elephant, painted in bright colors, in a room as a symbol of world poverty and the way it is mostly overlooked by everybody.

On entering the exhibition, the guests (including Hollywood megastars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt) were offered cards reading 'There's an elephant in the room. There's a problem we never talk about'. The paint used for Tai's 'make-up' was non-toxic but the city officials, alarmed by two animal campaigners, ordered Banksy to wash it off.

'The paint they had been using, although non-toxic, according to government regulations was unsafe, and even illegal to use the way they had been using it', the head of the Los Angeles Animal Service Department said. He then added: 'I think it sends a very wrong message that abusing animals is not only OK, it's an art form. We find it no longer acceptable to dye baby chicks at Easter, but it's OK to dye an elephant. Permits will not be issued for such frivolous abuse of animals in the future'.

As a consequence, Tai had to be completely washed for the last day of the exhibition (Monday), and all the bright colors that made it blend almost completely with the walls of the make-believe room were scrubbed off. One of the few who came to the artist's aid in the matter was actually the owner of the elephant, who stated that, quote, 'Tai has done many, many movies. She's used to makeup'.