Tag: Abstract

1901. St Werburghs tunnel (54)

Mr Klue, as I have mentioned before has been on a bit of a binge lately, and has produced as many pieces in the last couple of months as he has for the rest of the year. This is something that should be celebrated, as his work is emblematic of the down to earth Bristol street art scene.

This piece in the tunnel at St Werburghs by Mr Klue has an ephemeral, wispy, smokey quality to it. I think that the letters spell out KLUE, and the whole thing is a little different from his normal offering in that it is less complex somehow.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018

I guess that when writing letters, there is less freedom for the abstract artist…sure you can do swirls and twirls and disguise the letters, but they are still letters. With the free-form abstract work one usually sees from Mr Klue, there tends to be a little more richness, texture and content. Having said all that, I rather like this and the colour selection too works for me.

1895. The Bearpit (170)

We are lucky in Bristol to have people like Decay who continue to spray down at The Bearpit in spite of a Council determined to clamp down on spraying. Most of the decent work down there is confined to the boards that were put in place by the People’s Republic of Stokes Croft (PRSC), and this is where most of the recent work is, like this one. All the other walls are regularly buffed (at some expense ) by the Council. The paint doesn’t even get to dry before the taggers move in. It is an insane cycle of self-destruction. I really think that the Council need to devise a better plan. The Bearpit has the opportunity to become the best legal wall in Britain if they just try to think outside the box.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2018

This Decay piece was a nice surprise for me as I rarely expect to find much down in The Bearpit these days. Great letters (DK) and for good measure two of his little character faces. Unfortunately there is a small poster slapped right in the middle – I guess it’s all part of the furniture.

Decay

A collection of wonderful abstract street art by Bristol artist (formerly of Cheltenham), Decay (DK)

Instagram: @dk_tmp_lrs

All photographs taken by Scooj

Decay, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2024
Decay, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, March 2024
Decay and Mudra, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Decay and Mudra, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2022
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2022
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristtol, November 2021
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristtol, November 2021
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2021
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2021
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, April 2021
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, December 2020
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Decay, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Decay and Sludge, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Decay and Sludge, M32 cycle path, Bristol, August 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2020
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2020
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, June 2020
Decay, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Decay, Upper York Street, Bristol, April 2020
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2020
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2020
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2020
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2020
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, January 2020
Rezwonk and Decay, Turbo Island, Bristol, December 2019
Rezwonk and Decay, Turbo Island, Bristol, December 2019
Decay, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay and Ryder, M32 spot, Bristol, November 2019
Decay and Ryder, M32 spot, Bristol, November 2019
Decay, Nol and the Agent, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay, Nol and the Agent, Paint Festival 2018, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, October 2019
Decay, Paint festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay, Paint festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, St Werburghs, Bristol, August 2019
Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, August 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, August 2019
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, Devon Road, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, New Stadium Road, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, North Street, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, North Street, Bristol, May 2019
Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Decay, M32, Bristol, April 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019
Decay and Rezwonk, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, Dean Lane, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2019
Decay, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2019
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Decay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay and Jee See, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018
Decay, Old Ashley Hill, Bristol, January 2018
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017
Decay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Decay, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Decay, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Decay, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2017
Decay, Wilder Street, Bristol, April 2017
Beastie and Decay, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2017
Beastie and Decay, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2017
Decay, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2017
Decay, Greville Road, Bristol, June 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
Decay and John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Decay and John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Mr Klue and Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
Beastie and Decay, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016
Beastie and Decay, Raleigh Road, Bristol, November 2016
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Decay, Backfields Lane, Bristol, September 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, May 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, 8 April 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2016

1855. Brighton Street (1)

I have known about this wonderful piece by Decay for quite some time, but just haven’t had the time to get to this part of St Pauls until very recently. The abstract work was painted to mark the St Pauls carnival and Decay has exchanged his usual greys, blacks and reds for the Rastafarian colours of red, gold and green.

Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, November 2018
Decay, Brighton Street, Bristol, November 2018

I feel like I have had slight withdrawal symptoms from having seen so little of Decay’s work since Upfest, so finding this was just what the doctor ordered. His abstract formation, or variations of it, are always pleasing to the eye and so distinctive that no signature is required. Nobody else does anything like this.

1854. St Werburghs tunnel (51)

Well, well, well it would seem that Mr Klue has rediscovered his mojo, which is absolutely brilliant news for this king of abstract street art in Bristol and is also pretty good news for me too.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018

Over recent weeks Mr Klue has been turning out a whole load of excellent pieces, mostly in St Werburghs tunnel, and this one was form the very end of October. I mentioned before that there had been a great crop of Halloween pieces this year and this is one of them.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, November 2018

Much of Mr Klue’s work is peaceful and calming, but a quick glance of some of the detail in this one shows a fair amount of menace…the chainsaws are particularly horrific. I love this piece, and it really brings out another side to the talents of Mr Klue. One of my all-time favourite Halloween pieces.

1809. St Werburghs tunnel (49)

I have always had a massive soft spot for Mr Klue’s work – I love to examine it and unravel all the different abstract elements that combine to such great effect. As is always the case in this tunnel, the lighting has played havoc with the true colours of the piece, but the form is there for all to see.

Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018

After what feels like a bit of a lull in his work, it appears that he is becoming a little more active on the streets, which is a good thing. I first became aware of his work in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol, but it is telling that the decline in decent walls there and the Council’s stance on The Bearpit has driven artists like Mr Klue away (I am guessing). This is a fine piece indeed.

1802. New Stadium Road (8)

I haven’t seen anything from Run Z for a little while, so it was good to come across this great abstract piece in the little foot tunnel in New Stadium Road. This is a favourite haunt for Deamze, Soke and Voyder, but others come here too.

Run Z, New Stadium Road, Bristol, October 2018
Run Z, New Stadium Road, Bristol, October 2018

Run Z always brings something refreshing in his work as it is unlike most of the rest of the street art in the city. His patterns and exceptional colour choices set his work apart from the writers and character painters. He joins the small band of abstract artists whose work I love to see.

1792. Upfest 2018 (68)

On the long car park wall of The Tobacco Factory one of the most eye-catching pieces is what I would describe as a still life study by the talented Envol. I first became aware of the artist at last year’s Upfest and his style is so very distinct.

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

There is something rather pleasing about this assemblage of recognisable things, the hand and the Swiss cheese plant leaf together with rather more abstract shapes. The painting draws the eye from one side to the other (in my case from left to right) before settling on the whole.

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

During the festival this area is a real squeeze, and it can be rather difficult stopping to take pictures without getting nudged in the back or caught up in the tide of human impatience sweeping towards the street food area. Last year’s piece is shown below.

Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Envol, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

1769. Brunel Way bridge (10)

Alongside a rather magnificent Sled One piece i posted a little while back is this really unusual work from Ments. I haven’t seen much of his work for a while, so it was great to find this. In the past I have described his work as ‘organic’ in its form, but this piece represents quite a departure from his previous work.

Ments, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018
Ments, Brunel Way Bridge, Bristol, September 2018

There is a modernist feel to this piece, abstract surrealism almost and I rather like it. The writing spells out MENTS as it does in most of his work, but this time it is a little more legible. The colour selections are quite unusual but seem to work pretty well on this bright red background. More to come soon from Ments.

1717. Frogmore Street (7)

I had no idea this was here. Unheralded, unannounced and not picked up on Instagram, this wonderful new piece from 3Dom is in Frogmore Street where there used to be a collaboration by RichT and 45RPM (you can just see the remains of it in the doorway) which seems to have been here forever.

3Dom, Frogmore Street, Bristol, August 2018
3Dom, Frogmore Street, Bristol, August 2018

We are used to seeing rather surreal work and dream-like characters from the brilliant mind of 3Dom, but occasionally he also creates these wonderful abstract concentric designs, and this one really hits the spot.

3Dom, Frogmore Street, Bristol, August 2018
3Dom, Frogmore Street, Bristol, August 2018

I hope he returns to finish up in the doorway, because as it stands it looks a little untidy. Maybe he has already done it, I don’t know as I’ve not returned since I took the pictures. The colours and shapes are reminiscent of some kind of organic life, almost like a coral reef. The shading and highlights are really clever, giving the whole piece a sort of 3D effect. Lovely work.