I might have mentioned before that there were a lot of shutter pieces at this year’s Upfest and this mysterious piece is by French artist Kaldea Nakajima. I don’t know too much about her or her work, but have found her creative website that hosts some of her work.
Kaldea, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
I rather like this female portrait with octopus-like tentacles for hair, and a wonderful halo signifying what I’m not quite sure. The lips are very Japanese, and I wonder if there is some influence there, judging from her surname. Altiogether an unusual and calming piece.
A collection of fantastic stencil art by Bristol street artist John D’oh
Published on 17 October to celebrate the publication of his new book “Street Art and Graffiti” – Buy it here
All photographs taken by Scooj
John D’oh, St George skate park, Bristol, April 2022John D’oh, Purdown, Bristol, March 2022John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, March 2022John D’oh, Horfield Skate Park, Bristol, March 2022John D’oh, Gloucester Road, Bristol, December 2021John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, November 2021John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, April 2016John D’oh, Gloucester Road, Bristol, November 2021John D’oh, Gloucester Road, Bristol, November 2021John D’oh, Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, September 2021John D’oh, Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, September 2021John D’oh, Purdown Battery, Bristol, October 2021John D’oh, Princess Street, Burnham-on-Sea, September 2021John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2021John D’oh, Lower Approach Road, Bristol, February 2021John D’oh, Purdown, Bristol, February 2021John D’oh, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020John D’oh, Paint Festival 2020, Cheltenham, September 2020John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, August 2020John D’oh, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2020John D’oh, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2020John D’oh, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2020John D’oh, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2020
John D’oh, St George, Bristol, June 2020John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, May 2020John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020John D’oh, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2020John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017John D’oh, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, Upfest 2016, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, M32 cycle path, Bristol, March 2020John D’oh, Paint festival 2019, Cheltenham, September 2019John D’oh, St Michael’s Hill, Bristol, July 2019John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, April 2019John D’oh, Horfield skate park, Bristol, April 2019John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, Princes Street, Bristol, October 2018John D’oh, Princes Street, Bristol, October 2018John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018John D’oh, Upfest, Bristol, August 2018John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2018John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, October 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, December 2017John D’Oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017Decay and John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016John D’oh, Dean Lane, Bristol, August 2016John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, June 2016John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, June 2016John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, May 2016John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2016
This might be the most high-profile piece at Upfest 2018 and was possibly the most photographed wall of the festival. It is by the outstanding duo Nomad Clan whose fisherman and octopus wowed visitors at last year’s event.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
This piece combines two themes for the festival in a beautiful way; The Simpsons and Bristol Women’s Voice celebrating 100 years of the first women getting the vote. Lisa Simpson is the perfect choice as a champion for women and I think this piece is entitled #bemorelisa. All walls have to start somewhere and this one starts with a grid.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
The whole thing took about three days to complete and is a real tour de force from Nomad Clan. They really do excel at these large walls and seem to have the capacity to paint them with such apparent ease.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
It is easy to see just why this was such a popular piece at the festival from the sheer scale, but for me it is the Lisa Simpson that leaps out, there is something about her face and eyes that works for me.
Nomad Clan, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
I am not sure who the other character is, but with the loud hailer, it is obvious that this is all about Women’s voice. An impressive work, although I am probably more fond of last year’s piece.
Adjacent to the Sofa Project back yard is another yard that is a bit of a street art goldmine. First up from this little backwater is this gorgeous piece by Voyder, characteristically sharp and of very high quality.
Voyder, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018
With a vanishing point somewhere behind the lettering this piece stands out from the wall and the flash across the middle gives the impression of a reflective band of sunlight as if the piece is being tilted side to side. Now sunlight…that would make a refreshing change. Beautiful piece of writing as always.
I was first alerted to this Kleiner Shames piece on Instagram, but from the pictures I saw I just couldn’t get the location. In the end I had to message one of my street art buddies to find out where it was…which looking at it now with hindsight is blooming obvious. There is a charity in Bristol called the SOFA Project (Shift Old Furniture Around) which has two locations one of which, the Old Market store, has a walled yard where this piece is sprayed. The charity sells on old furniture, donated locally, to those less able to afford new furniture. A worthy venture.
Kleiner Shames, Waterloo Place, Bristol, October 2018
On to this stunning piece by my favourite ex-Bristol artist, Kleiner Shames. Most of his wall work is writing, with the odd exception, and he tends to spell out the letters FOIS which spells out ‘time’ in french. The lettering here is so easy on the eye and beautifully designed. Every time I see pieces like this I feel there must be an element of art deco architectural influence going onm, or at least that is what it looks like to me. This is a very fine piece indeed.
So back we go now to St Werburghs tunnel where we find another Face 1st piece, this time it is just the face and hair which has a leaf-like appearance. I think the hair might spell Face, as in other works by the artist, but I fear I am losing my grasp a little and see writing in things where there is none.
Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
I think that Face 1st tends to do a couple of these at a time when there is a paint jam in the tunnel, because there always seems to be something by him in there at any one time. This piece features his commonly used purples and pinks which often dominate his colour palettes.
On the same recently erected hoarding in Thomas Street where Sled One sprayed his banana piece, is this wonderful organic piece of wildstyle writing from Ments. Normally Ments writes his name, but this piece is so cryptic that although I suspect it says his name I can’t quite make it out, other than an S at the end.
Ments, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018
I have always liked the work of Ments because it is so different from pretty much all the rest of the writers in Bristol, usually adopting this mystical, swirly, other-worldly style. His colours often incorporate these purples and oranges. The note ‘Save Hamilton House’ refers to a campaign to protect a building just across the other side of the main road which is at risk of demolition and redevelopment. There are many local studios for artists and the like in Hamilton House and redevelopment would break up this very tight community in Stokes Croft.
They really don’t come any better than Sled One. His bizarre creations have a dream-like cartoon style to them, but it is the immaculate execution of his work that is most notable. His lines and shading as well as extraordinary textures, for example the banana in this piece, seem to flow effortlessly from his spray can. It would be impressive enough if this piece were created with paint brushes…it is a small miracle with spray cans.
Sled One, Thomas Street, Bristol, October 2018
The element of humour also must not be overlooked and although a little gory, the concept of a banana slipping over on a human is a funny one. The little finger skateboard is a little nod to Sled One’s other passion which is skateboarding, and his Facebook stream has several videos of his skills for all to see. The piece is exquisite.
The permission to paint the hoardings was arranged by Where the Wall who offer street art tours around Bristol.
I really hope you don’t get bored with seeing pieces by Face 1st. If you do, then just skip over this one and the next one in about four posts time and so on. You see, I like his work a lot and he manages to hit the streets a lot, which means his work will feature here a lot.
Face 1st, St Werburghs, Bristol, October 2018
This is an absolute blinder from Face 1st in St Werburghs tunnel and I had to do quite a lot of colour management on my photo editor to bring out the true colours that were swamped with orange light in my originals. Because of this manipulation these pictures can never be a true representation of the piece, so things like this really need to be seen in the flesh. Two faces and lots of adornment…each of the tear-drop things decorated differently, but each given that 3D feel. Lovely piece.
Things have really slowed down at The Bearpit recently and most of the walls are becoming congested with fly posters and tagging. It has got a whole lot worse and more trashy since Bristol City Council came down hard on the street art scene and buffed all the walls – unintended consequences and all that…
DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018
In among all the sleezyness is this really classy piece recently sprayed by DNT. It is a floral tribute piece to a friend of his, Derek Williams, who passed away, I guess recently. In a touching Instagram post he says that Derek was one of the first people he met when he arrived in Bristol in 1990 and treated him normally. There is a big back-story there of which we only get a glimpse.
DNT, The Bearpit, Bristol, September 2018
As tributes go, this is a really heartfelt and carefully crafted piece and from the Autumn colours to the whole tone of the piece you can see it is a labour of love. Lovely tribute.
Natural adventures 