Ah! what joy to see one of the Bristol favourites back in his home town. Mau Mau is an established artist who features a crafty and irreverent fox in most of his works. I haven’t seen much new stuff in Bristol, so it was great to see this a week or so ago. A skateboarding fox with a bit of attitude.
Mau Mau, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2017
The last work I saw from Mau Mau was in Camden Town in London during the summer (yet to be posted), and I felt that he really ought to be doing more in Bristol. Well here it is, and it is beautifully done too. It is hard not to like a fox, isn’t it?
I like 23 Magpie’s work so much that I recently bought a small piece that she was selling through Instagram. It is waiting for a frame, along with several other things that need frames…I really do need to earn a little more money.
23 Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
As well as her official work, 23 Magpies left a treasure trail of paste ups all around North Street, some of which I have posted on this blog, and others that I have yet to post. I think I may have got them all, but I can’t be sure. This is a fox painted with a design onto sheet music, something that she does quite a lot. It is always a pleasure finding one of these.
This is a wonderful collaboration that I saw in Hawley Mews, Camden Town during last summer. There is a great post about the piece from the London calling blog, which perhaps more articulately describes the works than I might be able to do.
Alice Pasquini, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
The girl and cheetah are by Alice Pasquini, an Italian artist from Rome, who has worked in many great cities all over the world. Her work, which often features portraits and uses light pastel shades, reminds me a lot of Hannah Adamasek’s work. There is a serenity and calmness in this piece.
Alice Pasquini, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
The desert foxes by Himbad and Marina Zumi add a little humour to the collaboration. There is not a lot of information about Himbad, although lots of his work is posted on various websites. It would appear that he is based in London. His fox looks rather mischievous, which is pretty much in keeping with the other faces he sprays on the streets of London.
Himbad, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
Marina Zumi presents us with an altogether softer and kinder looking desert fox. Marina Zumi lives and works in Sao Paolo and is perhaps more used to working large walls. She paints fairy tail animals, often at dusk or nightfall when the magic comes. You can read more about her work here.
Himbad and Marina Zumi, Hawley Mews, Camden Town, September 2016
It was a real pleasure to see this collaboration. Just one of the rewards for wandering around without any plan or map…psychogeography at its best.
I never made it to Upfest 2015, which might be a blessing, as I would probably still be writing posts about it now if I had. I was struck though by how many ‘treats’ were hidden in the North Street area after the event.
23Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
It was in searching carefully for these ‘treats’ that I started to find some lovely paste ups by 23Magpies, such as this chameleon. Her work is heavily focused on wildlife and the environment, and her feature piece for Upfest was this lovely fox and design.
23Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I am a big fan of 23Magpies’ work and will be writing about some of the treats she left behind after this year’s festival. On this particular piece, you’ve got to love the detail of the bee on the rim, which the fox appears to be watching. Great stuff.
I am a huge fan of China Girl Tile, and was so excited to hear that she would be at Upfest 2016. I had seen lots of her work on social media, but nothing in the flesh, so it was a real treat not only to see her at work, but to be able to say hello and stop for a quick chat.
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I caught up with China Girl Tile while she was finishing off her work in the drizzle on the second day of the festival. The wall she was working on is in the back yard of the Hen and Chicken and in really great company (Fake, Cosmo Sarson…and others).
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I am glad she chose foxes for this installation, because as many of you may know Bristol is famous for its urban foxes. In fact some research a few years ago showed that the most densely populated group of foxes on record were in and around my allotment. Their numbers fell due to mange and the introduction of wheelie bins with strong lids. I digress. I love foxes.
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Her reference to the Campbells soup tin is not only witty but is incorporated so very well into the unfolding story.
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Her work is unusual and refreshing and executed with such skill and dedication. The tiles are really beautiful and enchanting. Please can we get more China Girl Tile work in Bristol.
China Girl Tile, Greville Road, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Well Mau Mau has returned with a topical piece (when he sprayed it), cleverly conflating an urban fox with R2D2 from Star Wars.
MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016
Always witty and often quite acerbic, Mau Mau rarely disappoints. I only wish I had found this gem before it had been tagged. Maybe someone was offended by the language (I think not).
MauMau, Hillgrove Street, Bristol, April 2016
I look forward to more foxes in the Stokes Croft area.
This must be one of the most rapidly changing walls in Stokes Croft at the moment. It seems each time something goes up, it gets painted over and then not long after, replaced. It is not long ago that I featured the wall in this blog.
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
This is a wonderful new addition by Mau Mau, which he posted on Twitter on February 19 this year. Featuring his signature fox, it is witty and slightly edgy. Much of Mau Mau’s work contains social comment and I think that this is no different.
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
I have only encountered two of his pieces so far, the first being a wonderful political collaboration with Rowdy. I love this piece, and hope it has a longer stay of execution than some of the previous works here.
Natural adventures 