5493. New Stadium Road (52)

Werm, New Stadium Road, Bristol, September 2023
Werm, New Stadium Road, Bristol, September 2023

In the murky underpass for pedestrians, still with a blackened ceiling from a car arson attack in the spring, Werm has painted his magic letters alongside a character, which, although he has done combinations before, is quite rare. The character in this piece is a busty bikini-clad lady, presumably enjoying the last throes of summer.

Werm, New Stadium Road, Bristol, September 2023
Werm, New Stadium Road, Bristol, September 2023

Werm’s work is becoming ever more complex and disguised. The letters WERM are at the centre of the piece, with elaborate extensions emanating from the centre. The letters are actually quite thin, which you can see if you concentrate on the green, tan and black ‘camouflage’ fill. The blocky look of the piece is down to much of the rest of the available space being taken up with the deep 3D drop shadow. This is a great combination piece from an artist constantly looking to improve and push boundaries.

Update: Painted as part of the World Wall Stylers camouflage challenge.

2438. Upfest 2018 (160)

Way back at Upfest 2016, I bee W was the first street artist at a festival that I had the courage to speak to, shortly before I spoke with Dice 67 (who I later went on to conduct my first, and so far only, interview). Turns out that the vast majority of street artists are lovely people and even at festivals make time for a quick chat.

I bee W, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
I bee W, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018

I bee W is a stencil artist whose stencils are often placed on carefully crafted or textured backgrounds and so become part of something bigger than the stencil alone. There is a story here, but I’ll be damned if I know what it is. A lady in a bikini bookended by a pair of seahorses. It is a pretty piece albeit slightly surreal. I have a few more of his pieces lurking in my archives, so I’ll have to dig them out.

That rounds off this series of ten Upfest 2018 catch up posts, but I’ll be doing more over the autumn and winter as there are still so many I haven’t yet posted.