Tag: Bristol

4515. New Stadium Road (40)

This is brilliant from Pelmo. A compound piece telling a wonderful story, but you have to keep your eyes open. I, and many others, missed the point of this piece, simply by breaking the first rule of looking at street art… Always, always look up! I thought the character in the feature image was the whole piece, a climber at the bottom of a rope – it was new, it was different, and it was by Pelmo, which was more than enough for me. However, I hadn’t looked up.

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

The whole piece has another climber at the top of the rope, hanging down from the top of the tunnel entrance. How on earth did I miss this? I only found out when Pelmo responded to a post on Instagram from another photographer who had also missed the top climber. D’oh!

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

When I spoke to Pelmo at Upfest he suggested that he might be trying a few more of these ‘compound’ pieces in the future, which would be wonderful if happens. Expect to see some more orange and red pieces coming from Pelmo, as he seems to be favouring these colours at the moment.

Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022
Pelmo, New Stadium Road, Bristol, June 2022

(Founding) Father’s Day

.

Alex Hamilton

in the room where it happens

Aaron Burr left out

.

by Scooj

4514. Nelson Street (15)

Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022
Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022

Anyone who visits the centre of Bristol can’t have missed that there has been a lot of redevelopment work going on in Nelson Street, Broad Street and the surrounding area. This rather seedy backwater has, over the last two years undergone a bit of a face lift and is being opened soon as a huge, 250 bedroom, hotel owned by the Clayton chain. Let’s hope they can find enough workers to staff it! Unlike many developments, this one has retained some significant existing murals and commissioned a new one by the old master, Felix Braun.

Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022
Felix Braun (FLX), Nelson Street, Bristol, June 2022

Felix Braun or FLX is one of the godfathers of Bristol street art and author of the book ‘Children of the Can’ a ‘must-have’ for enthusiasts of the Bristol scene. His artwork has taken on a highly designed stylised look in recent years, and this huge mural is a gorgeous reminder of his talent. Abstract figures at the base of the piece draw your eyes in before sending them upwards towards the giant figure and it’s shadow. There is something very pleasing about the piece overall, and it is great to see FLX’s work in the heart of the city.

Brothers

.

Three very long years

since last we were together

a rare occasion

.

by Scooj

Palette

.

Well thank you so much

a kerbside delivery

what if I were old?

.

by Scooj

Inheritance

.

The tiniest glance

in the mirror or on screen

I see my father

.

by Scooj

4508. St Werburghs tunnel (296)

I just don’t seem to see enough of Soge’s work, but it is great to know that he is still in Bristol and taking a can to a wall once in a while. This recent piece was painted alongside Hire and other artists I am not so familiar with in a session in the tunnel

Soge, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022
Soge, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022

The scratchy writing spelling out SOGE is typical of his writing, and the pink and yellow-bordered purple letters appear to be sitting on a cosmic nebula-type setting. A fine piece of writing from a great writer who needs to get out more (IMO).

4507. Brunel Way (160)

I don’t think that there has ever been a time when I have not been excited to find a piece by Kid Crayon. His work has been at the heart of my love for street art, and he is probably the street artist I have followed most closely over the last six years or so.

Kid Crayon, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2022
Kid Crayon, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2022

This piece is quite unlike anything we might expect from Kid Crayon, but there is a reason for that, He painted it as a part of the Secret Writer name exchange idea, where writers wrote the name of another artist (supposedly anonymously – although Kid Crayon signed this one). He was honouring the artist Rasexone1 and in turn Kid Crayon’s name was written by Magnesone. What a stupendous idea and one that binds the street art community, but a bit confusing for people like me who are trying to untangle and make sense of the whole scene.

In addition, this was the first Kid Crayon piece I had seen in a long time and I asked him, at the Upfest festival, why he has hardly been painting lately. His answer was great news… he has been working flat out with some big commissions, and that for an artist is something to cherish. More posts of his even more recent work coming soon.

Open letter to the world

.

Please do not mistake

the actions of government

as the people’s will

.

by Scooj

As our Government edges towards fascism, the canary in the mine has died, but have we noticed it yet? Well I have, and many others too. Changing times ahead.

4506. Cumberland Basin

It is not only the quantity of graffiti and street art that is being painted in Bristol at the moment, but the outstanding quality of some of it that is quite mind-boggling, and you know that when Smak, Sled One and Ments get together that you are going to be in for a treat.

Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Smak, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022

On the left of this triptych Smak has absolutely smashed out his letters with extraordinary class and style in what I can only describe as a very Smacky way, which I hope makes sense. Although quite well disguised, once you get your eye in you can clearly see the letters SMAK. Great colours and a confident piece.

Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Sled One, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022

A surreal and utterly bonkers elephant character by Sled One is in the middle section of this collaborative wall. Alongside 3Dom, Sled One is the leading character artist in Bristol and his weird creations are always something to look forward to. It is his details and textures, tones and depth that makes his work completely stand out from the crowd.

Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
Ments, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022

To the right is a fabulously etherial piece from Ments, who seems to reinvent his style on an annual basis while always maintaining an organic and rather abstract nature with his letters. This piece feels almost more like a canvas study than a piece of graffiti writing. Superb skills all round, this is a wonderful collaborative wall.