6107. Upfest 2024 (23)

I think that it is fair to say that at Upfest 2024 we have seen the painting of more large scale ‘marquee’ murals than ever before, some replacing previous artwork and others appearing on new walls. The team at Upfest have done a remarkable job on negotiating with property owners, and presumably the council too, to free up so many new and wonderful spaces.

This outstanding portrait piece is by Lionel David and was painted on a new wall, a little walk away from the main centre of Upfest activity, and as a result may not have been seen by as many visitors as some of the other pieces on the main drag. Lionel David has not only painted a beauty, but he has been clever too by incorporating the wall that runs alongside the house, and as a result the piece needs to be viewed from a particular spot in the adjacent plot, which the artist has marked out on the ground. Not only did he paint the low wall, but on the main wall he has painted the girl’s body and arm in full, so there is some repetition.

There is no doubting Lionel David’s incredible skills, and it is clear to see that he has been schooled in art. Lionel David has a great website, but it is in German, so I have used Google Translate to give you his biography, as follows:

Lionel David is a visual artist from Switzerland who discovered his love for painting in 2017. He specializes in spray can murals.

Studying fine arts at the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences from 2019 to 2022 broadened Lionel David’s horizons and emphasized the importance of context in his work. His style combines photorealism with graphic elements and is often inspired by nature.

The artist is currently concentrating on portrait painting and experimenting with compositions to further explore artistic boundaries. With dedication and innovation, he succeeds in inspiring people with his lively and gentle works.

Further to this incredible portrait piece, which he finished earlier than expected, Lionel David had time to paint an ‘extra’ in Dean Lane, which although unfinished looked amazing. Dibz and Fade were in the process of contacting the artist to see if he would mind if they ‘augmented’ the portrait piece, but before they could send their message, another artist had started painting over it, so this ‘extra’ lasted less than 24 hours.