Tag: Bedminster

491. Upfest 2016 (65)

This is one of the most beautiful and sensitive pieces that I saw at Upfest this year. The artist, Sokar Uno has created something really touching and outstanding. This is without doubt one of my favourite pieces from this year’s festival.

Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Sokar Uno is a young German artist who has been painting and illustrating since he was twelve. Clearly he is very talented.

Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

There is a wonderful explanation of the approach he takes to his art on his excellent website which is really worth a visit.

Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I am thoroughly taken with his ‘classical’ style and would really love to see more of his work. I fear I might have to travel to Berlin to see it though. It is a real privilege to see him at work in Bristol.

Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Sokar Uno, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

305. Gathorne Road

 

UPDATE: Inkie informs me via Twitter that this piece is going nowhere and will remain in place after Upfest, which is great news.

This wonderful Inkie is enjoying the last days of the Raj. It was created for Upfest 2015, and will in all likelihood give way to another piece at the 2016 festival in July.

Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016

‘Best thing since sliced bread’ is a wonderful piece by Inkie, incorporating his large block writing, and the styalised girl with flowing hair. Interestingly the girl is in three quarter profile, rather than the silhouetted profile that is more common in his works.

Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016
Inkie, Gathorne Road, Bristol, June 2016

On the wall of a bakery, this uplifting work fits so perfectly in this quiet street, immediately off North Street. I wonder what will replace it.

273. North Street Green (2)

This lovely wall seems to have an orderly rotation and large bags of respect. Rarely is anything here tagged, and the pieces appear to remain for several weeks before being painted over. The piece before this one was the Cheo gorilla, and it has since been replaced by a recent Mr Draws work.

Copyright and E.Lee, North Street, Bristol, May 2016
Copyright and E.Lee, North Street, Bristol, May 2016

This is a lovely collaboration by Copyright and E.Lee (who is from Chicago, and spent a little time in Bristol recently). The two figures are characteristic of Copyright’s work, so I am assuming that the frames are by E.Lee, who I think has the most distinctive signature of any street artist – a red stamped seal with the letters EL merged together.

Copyright and E.Lee, North Street, Bristol, May 2016
Copyright and E.Lee, North Street, Bristol, May 2016

I am really loving copyright’s work at the moment, both sprayed and pasted. He is gifted.

224. Dean Lane skate park (2)

Dean Lane skate park is situated between Dean Lane and the Eastern end of North Street, and is a major draw for street and graffiti artists. The skaters quite like it too. Just on the way out of the park I noticed this poster, which I kind of walked past without really registering it, and then went back to it, thinking it was rather unusual. It is in fact a pasteup piece by Copyright an artist who has graced the streets of Bristol previously, notably during Upfest. His website is here.

Copyright, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, April 2016
Copyright, Dean Lane skate park, Bristol, April 2016

Since taking this picture at the end of April, I have since found another poster in North Bristol, equally striking.

This is beautiful. A simple stencil and a lovely portrait. His style is very recognisable…I say that now that I know who he is and have done some searches on his work. I really like this work and rather wish I could peel it off the wall and take it home. I think his works for sale are a little outside my price bracket.

202. Greville Road (2)

This is a contemporary political stencil that I came across recently during a stroll down North Street. It is a controversial piece from an artist who is known for using iconic figures in his works – usually celebrities. In this instance he has conflated two ‘hate figures’…Adolf Hitler and Donald Trump, in a very interesting way. Edgy stuff, which makes it all the more attractive to me.

Pegasus, Greville Road, Bristol, April 2016
Pegasus, Greville Road, Bristol, April 2016

Pegasus is originally from Chicago, but now lives and works out of North London. He has a fairly substantial Wikipedia page, and a good website containing more about him and his works.

Pegasus, Greville Road, Bristol, April 2016
Pegasus, Greville Road, Bristol, April 2016

This is one of many political pieces in Bristol that are emerging as we enter into election periods in the midst of austerity. I expect more.

170. Dean Lane skate park (1)

It is a strange thing with hunting down street art that you can be completely ignorant of a particular artist, and then within a few days see several of their works. One such artist is Laic 217 who I featured for the first time on 31 March 2016. Earlier this week I spotted another of his pieces in the skate park in Dean Lane.

Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016

What I like about these is the character within the burner that seems to be common to his works, and the colours he uses.

Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016
Laic 217, Dean Lane, Bristol, April 2016

I look forward to finding more of his stuff, especially as I now know where to look.

7/10

137. North Street, No.131.

This is a fine, clean tribute to Mibsy (Mibzy) by Inkie (update – and Cheo) , that can be found at the Eastern end of North Street. It is one of several such tributes that I have featured from Stokes Croft, Gloucester Road and Cheltenham Road.

Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016
Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016

This piece, I believe, was put up around the time of Upfest 2015, and typifies the love and respect the graff/street art community had for Mibsy.

Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016
Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016

Not instantly identifiable as an Inkie, I had to do a little digging to confirm. Since writing this post, I have been informed by Tuco that the piece was a collaboration between Inkie and Cheo. Props to both.

 

133. North Street, The Steam Crane

At the far Eastern end of North Street, where it joins with Dean Lane, you will find The Steam Crane pub. There is a side alley that gives access to the rear of the pub, and on one of the walls is this wonderful piece by Pakone, which was created as part of Upfest 2015.

Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016
Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016

Pakone is an artist from Brest in France and is a member of the C29 crew. This piece is difficult to capture in photographs because of the narrow setting, but his detail and depth are beautifully crafted and show his dream-like ideas.

Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016
Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016

This was a bit of a hidden gem on my most recent wanderings around the area.

Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016
Pakone, the Steam Crane, Bristol, January 2016

8/10

130. British Road

Another wonderful My Dog Sighs work that was painted at the same time as Upfest 2015, but not directly as part of the event. The owner of the house (on the corner of British Road and Victoria Place) asked My Dog Sighs if he would paint the ‘Hugs’ character on the side of her house, and this is the result.

My Dog Sighs, British Road, Bristol, September 2015
My Dog Sighs, British Road, Bristol, September 2015

Although quite different in subject matter to his eyes or his tin cans, there is something simple and charming about ‘Hugs’. I am a big fan, and very much hope that My Dog Sighs will make a return for the 2016 Upfest.

My Dog Sighs, British Road, Bristol, September 2015
My Dog Sighs, British Road, Bristol, September 2015

8/10

128. St Francis Road

I have seen this incredible piece many times during my wanderings up and down North Street. It is literally eye-catching and, in my view, the outstanding work from the Upfest 2015 event.

My Dog Sighs, St Francis Road, Bristol, January 2015
My Dog Sighs, St Francis Road, Bristol, January 2015

The artist’ ‘My Dog Sighs‘ comes from Portsmouth and has recently found much success with sell out solo exhibitions in the UK, the US and in Israel.

My Dog Sighs, postcard printed to accompany the piece in St Francis Road
My Dog Sighs, postcard printed to accompany the piece in St Francis Road

An additional part to this particular work is to complete the puzzle. This was achieved by marrying up a postcard with the other eye, to complete the whole. I am lucky enough to have been given one of the postcards (I missed Upfest 2015 because I was away…that won’t be happening again!).

My Dog Sighs, St Francis Road, Bristol, January 2015
My Dog Sighs, St Francis Road, Bristol, January 2015

9/10