There is still so much I don’t know about street art in Bristol. This is a photograph I took quite a long time ago, but I never really tracked down who painted it. It has been sitting in my archive, but I am none the wiser about its origins. I thought I’d publish it in any case under the ‘unknown’ artist category.
Unknown Artist, Nelson Street, Bristol, August 2017
It was sprayed around the time of the absurd Donald Trump wall-building cant, and along with so much other street art, lampoons the unhinged president. I actually really like this political commentary piece and only wish I knew who the artist is. Any ideas on a postcard…
Well this rather ‘charming’ installation appeared only a couple of weeks ago in The Bearpit, on the inner wall of the ‘Debenhams’ tunnel. It is of course by Will Coles, whose work often has the capacity to lampoon and also to offend. I don’t think there will be too many people offended by this particular piece.
Will Coles, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
President Trumpety Dumpety throwing up the Stars and Stripes laced with warheads pretty much says all it needs to really. Another provocative piece by this interesting artist. Sadly, I visited The Bearpit a few days ago, and somebody had removed the piece in its entirety. May I recommedn stronger glue? Great stuff from Will Coles.
I love this. Here we see John D’oh at his most hard-hitting, exposing two of the easiest targets on earth and keeping the debate alive. Never one to hide from political comment, he produces topical pieces with alarming speed, unlike me who seems to take an eternity to publish posts.
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017
These single layer stencils are part of the furniture in The Bearpit and in other parts of Bristol, and John D’oh a permanent presence, reminding us to search our conscience and get fired up. So much more to come.
I was reminded about this satirical piece by Hanksy, because Donald Trump has just made a rather unwelcome visit to the UK to inspect his Trump Turnberry refurbished golf course in Scotland. He really is disliked here, and no senior politicians were there to meet him, but I guess they were all too preoccupied with Brexit. He congratulated the Scottish people for leaving the EU, but clearly didn’t understand that The Scottish voted to remain. He really is so thick.
Hanksy, Orchard Street, New York City, June 2016
Hanksy is a New York street artist who seems to use parody and satire in his work, even the name is playful. He is famous enough to have his own Wikipedia page if you want to know more. While I was photographing the piece, a lovely local lady started chatting to me and my daughter. She said straight away that nobody likes Trump. That may be the case in NYC but he seems popular elsewhere.
This piece went viral globally, and has much in common with the Paintsmiths piece in Stokes Croft with Trump and Boris kissing. The first part of the nightmare is coming to pass, with David Cameron standing down and Johnson in the running for Prime Minister, the prophetic images may become a reality. I really hope that the USA comes to its senses and doesn’t fall for the populist propaganda aimed at the disadvantaged/disowned working classes. In the UK our citizens were duped by right wing fabrications about immigration and jobs and promises that the money diverted to the EU would all be spent on the health service – a promise already retracted within hours of a Brexit victory. So it was not a promise, but a lie.
The UK is in for a very uncomfortable ride in the years to come and I expect a lot of political graffiti/street art to emerge…which at this moment is the only positive thing I can cling on to.
With one month to go before the referendum to decide on whether Great Britain should stay in the European Union, things are hotting up. This is an extraordinary commission from a group who are encouraging voters to remain in the EU. The wall is where the Bruno Smoky ‘burning house‘ piece was.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
I was lucky enough to see the artist working on this piece on my way to work yesterday morning. I stopped and chatted with him, while he painted. He is Felix (FLX) Braun, one of the original Bristol street artists and author of ‘children of the can‘ a seminal book cataloging the birth and growth of Bristol street art. Felix is one half of the Paintsmiths who created this tribute to Mibsy.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
We had a great discussion about the tagging that seems to be everywhere in Bristol at the moment, and he views it very much as part of the development of the whole graffiti art scene. He does a lot of work with youth groups, often from difficult backgrounds, and teaches them to spray and develop their skills. I believe he also works with art students at the University of the West of England in Bristol.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
The piece itself is a deliberately provocative and grotesque image of Donald Trump and Boris Johnson kissing…so much crazy hair! The intention is for the image, and others like it, to go viral, thus reaching and encouraging young voters to register and vote on the day of the referendum. It is known that younger people are much more pro EU than people over 60, but are less likely to vote.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
I will be playing my part by using the limited means I have on digital media to reach as many people as possible with this message.
Felix Braun, Donald and Boris, Stokes Croft, Bristol, 23 May 2016
Technically this is a great piece by a great artist, and although a commission, has all the hallmarks of the ‘Bristol thing’ about it. I love it.
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 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
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.
Natural adventures 