5382. Dean Lane skate park (623)

Dibz, VZA and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz, VZA and Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

So far this summer, there have been some magnificent collaborations, occupying large walls, some from the NTS crew, but others that appear to have been stimulated by the return of Fade to Bristol. Fade is clearly an artist who enjoys collaborating. This outstanding wall is by Dibz, VZA (Veeez) and Fade.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

Dibz and Fade have done that thing where they write each other’s name, which, for anyone unfamiliar with their styles could be confusing. Even when writing letters other than DIBZ, Dibz’ style and sharp finish gives him away every time, no signature required. I like the subtle colour transition in the letter fill from blue to red scanning left to right.

VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
VZA, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

The centrepiece is by VZA and features an incredible lay sharp and vibrant alien character that is simply constructed and beautifully executed, making it very easy on the eye. The bright colours make it very difficult to ignore, and it rather steals the show in this collaboration.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

To the right, Fade has written DIBZ in colours and a letter style that remind me a little of Scooby Doo, don’t ask me why. Fade seems to enjoy painting characters and backgrounds almost as much as letters, and here he has included some lovely rolling hills and a couple of trees, which he is adding the finishing touches to.

We are spoilt in Bristol to be able to see so many extraordinary and ephemeral pieces of art, and part of the purpose of this blog is to record and share these amazing works for a wider audience that they surely deserve.

5272. Dean Lane skate park (603)

Fade, Turoe and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, Turoe and Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

I have been droning on about how the amount of painting activity has increased over the last year or two in Bristol, but associated with this rise has been a commensurate increase in the number of collaborative walls, most of which have a short lifespan due to the high turnover. It is becoming more and more difficult to chronicle street/graffiti art, but I do my best.

Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

This triptych is by Fade, Turoe and Dibz. Starting with Fade on the left – I mentioned yesterday in my first Fade post on Natural Adventures, that we’d be seeing a lot more from the artist, and here is proof of that already. Fade’s work is really crisp, with nice solid fills and great thin black lines and thick black borders. I can’t read the letters in this piece, but it looks like a three letter sequence. This is classy work from someone who has only recently reacquainted himself with spray-painting after a long break.

Turoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Turoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

In the middle section is a fascinating piece from Turoe, whose mastery of graffiti writing is second to none. The chrome letters, which spell TUROE or as Paul H points DIBZ (although I can read both), have a regularity and uniformity about them, and just the right amount of subtle decoration in the form of white spots. The letters contrast nicely with the diesel-blue bubbly background. Classy stuff.

Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023
Dibz, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2023

Finally, to the right, Dibz does what Dibz does. Reflecting Turoe’s choice of chrome on diesel-blue Dibz shows his utter class with wildstyle writing. I don’t know how he does it, but Dibz is painting incredibly regularly these days – maybe he has a bit more free time on his hands. The clouds accompanying all the pieces on the wall, I think, are by Fade, because they have that flatter look to them that his style has. A very nice collaborative wall.

5269. M32 Spot (165)

Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, Pekoe and Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

This recent collaborative wall is one I didn’t see coming, and I think that it demonstrates the camaraderie that exists in the street/graffiti art world, which is often perceived as being aggressive, territorial and threatening, which it can be, but mostly isn’t. The three artists are Werm, Pekoe and Fade, an artist who is new to Natural Adventures, but whose work I expect to be posting a fair amount from now on.

Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Werm, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the left, the very productive Werm treats us to gold and electric blue graffiti writing, painted in his ever-evolving style. Recently Werm has been writing quite small letters in the centre of the piece and extending the letters outwards with intricate designs. His work is tending towards an overall symmetry, not unlike Elvs’ and Hypo’s work at the moment. A classy piece of writing.

Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Pekoe, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

The rose between two thorns (sorry guys) is by Pekoe, whose portrait pieces are part of the binding DNA of contemporary Bristol street art. The girl in the picture appears to be a little haunted and unhappy, often a feature of Pekoe’s work. The big hair is dutifully decorated with yellow blocks of marks and the cheeks decorated with an anarchy symbol and heart. I am tying to work out if the pink in the eyes was added by Pekoe or a tagger – it looks a little out of place to me.

Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023
Fade, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2023

To the right is a tidy piece by Fade, who tells me he has spent the last 15 years in New York photographing skaters and street scenes – his work is amazing – but has returned to Bristol and picked up a spray can again, to great effect. I expect to see a lot more from Fade as he gets his eye back in and decorates the streets of our city.

An unusual grouping of artists, but nonetheless a fine collaborative wall.