Tag: Graffiti

3869. M32 roundabout J3 (339)

At the time I took these pictures, I didn’t know who the artist was, so I left them lurking in my archive. Every once in a while I like to go back and see if I can unlock these hidden gems with any new information or insights that I might have, and fortunately I have been able to do so with this one. It is a very unusual early piece by Maesyhook.

Maesyhook, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021
Maesyhook, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2021

When I say an early piece, I mean that it was one of the first Maesyhook pieces that I photographed. I am a fan off protest pieces because they document the political landscape of the time, and this pink feline creature has joined the Kill the Bill protest. The protests are about the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, and this article in ‘the Big Issue’ explains a little bit more and demonstrates why this is vexing people who wish to voice their right to protest, and also protect the rights of travellers and the homeless.

I’m not sure what this pink creature has to do with the Bill, but I love it nonetheless.

3868. Dean Lane skate park (423)

From time to time unusual pieces appear in the regular spots in Bristol, unusual not only for the content or subject matter but also for the rarity of the artist’s work. This is a piece from a street artist called Stif or Stiff, who I know absolutely nothing about, but who has hit this Dean Lane wall a couple of times over recent months.

Stiff, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021
Stiff, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2021

This piece from January this year features a kind of of robot wasp creature in grey and lime green. Definitely an unusual piece but set out nicely on the black background. I have another more recent piece from the artist which I will try to post soon.

3867. Upfest 2021 75×75 (38)

Nothing from Rowdy for a long while and then two posts in close succession, what joy. Rowdy is held in high regard in Bristol. He is a friend of Banksy and one of the early graffiti artists emerging from the Bristol scene in the 1980s. Probably the biggest public impact that he has made is his trademark crocodile which adorns various buildings around the city.

Rowdy, Redpoint Climbing Centre, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest21
Rowdy, Redpoint Climbing Centre, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest21

This magnificent beast for Upfest’s 75 walls in 75 days festival is the largest and most prominent piece I have seen by Rowdy since his piece in Stokes Croft that came tumbling down with the demolition of buildings around the Carriageworks.

Rowdy, Redpoint Climbing Centre, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest21
Rowdy, Redpoint Climbing Centre, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest21

I am very fond of Rowdy’s crocodiles and other crazy creatures and it is fitting that Upfest should honour him with such a large wall, which just happens to be a perfect fit. Wonderful stuff.

Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016
Rowdy and Sweet Toof, The Carriageworks, Bristol, December 2016

3866. M32 roundabout J3 (339)

The giant has awoken. For much of the lockdown period Soker had kept a low profile, with only two or three pieces painted over a very long period. Thankfully that lean time has come to an abrupt end and in the last couple of months Soker has graced us with his presence once again with some superb graffiti writing.

Soker, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2021
Soker, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2021

This is a lovely piece spelling out SOKEM, a variant of  his usual SOKER. So much colour and energy is contained in this piece and it has been painted, as we expect, with consummate expertise. More to come from Soker… when I have a moment.

3865. West Street (6)

I love this piece. I have driven past it many times but never stopped to study or photograph it. Had I done so, I would have posted it a long time ago. It is by the magnificent American street artist Muckrock, and I presume was painted during a trip she made to the UK and Bristol in September 2018. I have followed her on Instagram since then and am a big fan of her work, so to finally capture this was a major boon.

Muckrock, West Street, Bristol, July 2021
Muckrock, West Street, Bristol, July 2021

Painted doors will always find favour with me and this blue tone piece is an absolute beauty. I think it is a portrait of Tina Turner but I can’t be sure, but Muckrock has made sure we all know who the artist is with her name displayed on the singer’s cheeks. Muckrock has such an easy and accessible style but her pieces can be quite challenging. A brilliant artist and one I would love to see back in Bristol again one day.

Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Muckrock, Dean Lane, Bristol, September 2018
Muckrock, North Street, Bristol, December 2018
Muckrock, North Street, Bristol, December 2018

3864. Upfest 2021 75×75 (37)

I first encountered Mind Control’s work at Upfest 2017, and since then, the young artist has been improving steadily. Much of his work is themed around animal rights and this piece aligns to what is obviously a strong motivation for the artist. His perseverance and hard work has been rewarded with this Tobacco Factory spot for Upfest’s 75 walls in 75 days event.

Mind Control, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21
Mind Control, Tobacco Factory, Bristol, July 2021, Upfest 21

The piece itself feels a little bit threatening and menacing with a masked and hooded hunt saboteur set in front of a stark background with barbed wire strung across it. Two foxes feature in the piece, presumably freed or protected by the character. This is a piece full of passion and not a little anger and it comes across in the colours, style and subject matter. Rather different from the more mainstream fare we have been used to seeing from Upfest this year.

3862. Chessel Street

I think that one of the spin-off benefits of the Upfest 2021 75×75 event has been that I have spent a whole lot more time in Bedminster this summer than I normally would, and in doing so have come across a few gems, like this one by Andy Council, that I might not have ordinarily seen.

Andy Council, Chessel Street, Bristol, July 2021
Andy Council, Chessel Street, Bristol, July 2021

This piece, which I assume is a commission, features a robin red-breast made up of multiple components stitched together with pink cord. This stitching theme is one that Andy Council has been working on a lot over the past couple of years and seems to have superseded his architectural blocks for which he is most famous. The sketch of this piece on his Instagram feed has a slightly better proportioned neck on the Robin, but I am perhaps being a bit picky. A wonderful little piece.

3861. Upfest 2021 75×75 (36)

The Upfest 2021 75 walls in 75 days event has been notable for the number of fabulous abstract murals on the front and sides of both commercial and residential buildings. Several of these murals have majored on natural themes and this one from Squirl is another beauty.

Squirl, The Nursery, Bristol, JUly 2021, Upfest 21
Squirl, The Nursery, Bristol, JUly 2021, Upfest 21

Squirl has smashed this wall with a bright and vibrant piece featuring mountains, trees and clouds. He is no stranger to Upfest, but I don’t think he has done one of these big walls before. I am always tinged with a little jealousy of the occupants of these houses with murals. I would love a mural on my house, but the stone surfaces are all wrong, and what would the neighbours say? 😁. Unfortunately, this house will probably always have a car parked outside it, so this is the best Photograph I could manage.

3860. M32 roundabout J3 (338)

There is something really compelling and engaging about this fabulous cartoon piece by Morf. It would appear that this is one of several pieces he painted during a visit to Bristol recently, but it is the only one that I have found. I don’t know much about the artist, but from his Instagram feed it is clear that he is a massively talented artist and his style ticks a lot of my boxes.

Morf, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2021
Morf, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2021

The letters spelling Morf are being blasted with a ray-gun held by dismembered green hands. The colours are vibrant and there are wonderful contrasts between the different elements of the piece. His lines are clean and sharp, his shading is outstanding and the whole thing is simply brilliant. I love it.

3859. St Werburghs tunnel (252)

This was what was left behind on the day Goldie came to town. For those of you who haven’t heard of Goldie, I can summarise as follows: he is a musician, music producer, DJ, artist and actor. When in the tunnel though, he is just another graffiti artist… no room for celebrity here. The occasion was a large paint jam, Funday Sunday, from a few weeks back and this is a loose collaboration from Goldie and Bristol’s 3Dom.

Goldie, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
Goldie, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021

I haven’t seen any of Goldie’s work before so I don’t have much to compare it with. His style is quite traditional, with a deep 3D shadow and central vanishing point, and the letters spell out Goldie. He has certainly gone for a full-on colour splash and his work is surely accomplished. A very nice piece.

3Dom, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021
3Dom, St Werburghs, Bristol, July 2021

To the right of Goldie’s letters is an unusual piece from 3Dom, the story of which I just can’t seem to pin down. There is a serpent with a hand instead of a head, holding the Earth gently in its long fingers. The tail of the serpent wraps all the way over to the left of Goldie’s piece, hence the partial collaboration. There is an orange arrow piercing the hand. The piece is packed out with symbolism, but I’ll be damned if I know what any of it means. It all looks very nice though. A fun collaboration.