Another old one from the archive dating back to January 2017. This is a really great semi-abstract piece from the hugely talented Mr Klue. In this piece he uses his favoured colour scheme of purples and blues and incorporates a vanishing point around which the whole work focuses.
Mr Klue, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
I like his work very much, but haven’t seen too much of it on the streets lately – in fact the most recent piece I saw was the one he did for Upfest.
Mr Klue, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
I look forward to more of his work on the streets of Bristol. I hope I don’t have to wait too long.
You will notice that this recent series of posts is a bit of a catch up from archives that I have held on to, but can hold on no longer…they all have to see the light of day at some point.
Hire, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2017
This is a wonderful jagged bunny by Hire from way back in January, before I knew who the artist was. This piece got left behind. I think I have several more old pieces from Hire and I fully intend to get round to posting them one day.
The green rabbit on the ping background works particularly well I think. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw! The bunny looks as cold as I felt when out walking to take this picture. I am not really looking forward to the inexorable march of Winter. You might notice he sprayed this over a Mr Draws piece, one I never saw!
Just a quick one that I have been meaning to post for ever – since Upfest last year in fact. This is a small piece by the imaginative and creative Feoflip, who was in my view one of the highlights of Upfest 2016.
Feoflip, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
This is a plug socket brought to life and animated, looking almost like a little dog. It is a 2-pin socket betraying the continental background of the artist. This utility box has since been sprayed green…and had a little Upfest 2017 treatment!
I am confused. Some time ago I was told that Skor85 is a female artist, however I read in the Upfest biography that Skor85 is referred to as he. I will avoid any further gender designation until I am absolutely certain.
Skor85, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
This is an old piece from back in January on the wall of the Lakota in Moon Street. The work is typically understated although it comes to life with the cleverly drawn outlines interrupted with zig-zags. I do like the work on Skor85 more of which you can see on this Facebook page.
I can see that this abstract piece may or may not be to everyone’s taste, however since seeing his work last year at Upfest I am a fan of the artist Angerami. He had two pieces at Upfest 2016, a fish his official piece and an owl tucked away in an alleyway.
Angerami, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This abstract piece is what I would call ‘architectural’ although that might not be the correct term. It is a bold work that may have some hint of or not to the animal kingdom, but that might just be my interpretation.
Angerami, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Angerami has a thorough website, and one of the most extensive biographies I have seen for a street artist – he also keeps it up to date – well worth a visit. It would appear, from looking at his artwork series that this piece is one of a series ‘from inside to outside’.
Angerami, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I stopped for a quick chat with Angerami and told him how much I liked his pieces last year, which he appreciated. A gentle and quiet man who appears to be highly thoughtful and I would guess academic. Hope he returns next year for a hat trick.
One of the most striking and rather psychadelic pieces of this year’s Upfest was this portrait incorporating a glitched abstract background in the form of 3D colouring. The work is from the Brisish artist (Dan) Newso.
Newso, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
This is quite a difficult and busy piece to look at. Do you look at the face and get distracted (I do), or look at the abstract surround and get pulled into the face? Either way it is amost impossible to look at the whole. A very clever piece.
Newso, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
On his website, Newso has published a biography, which reads:
‘Throughout 2016 Dan Newso developed his work combining figurative with abstract content in a glitch or implied collage style. This work is often painted on compressed cement board to give the feeling of a painting on a concrete wall.
Since 2008 he has been well known in Birmingham’s post-industrial creative quarter Digbeth, painting murals in public spaces. This work has largely been self funded and has been a process of getting to know the community to open up spaces to paint.
He paints commissioned artwork and murals in varied styles to suit clients needs; he has painted internationally with the latest project of 2016 being a residency in Perth, Western Australia.’
Newso, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I like this piece, even though it confuses my ageing eyes. I hope he makes it back to Upfest next year.
Jay Sharples, a Manchester-based former graphic designer, produced this magnificent bold piece, which I guess is a gorilla or something similar for Upfest. The simple use of only a few colours and thick black outlines makes for a memorable and eye-catchiing piece.
Jay Sharples, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Jay is a leading figure in the Manchester street art community and has a close involvement with the Wellington House Art Jam events and the Outhouse Project.
I don’t know Hypo, but I’m sure that if I met him, I would like him. I say this because his Upfest profile reads: ‘Local Bedminster painter who really should know better…’ and that’s it. Short and sweet.
Hypo’s piece was one that developed in stages as Upfest progressed, and I would guess that this was due to the rain interruptions. It was good to be able to capture the piece at different times.
Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I am really rather fond of this piece, but I can’t quite pin down why. The haunting landscape in the letters looks like a window into another dimension. The shading on the letters is really clever and leads the eye to a vanishing point (you can even see the string attached to the VP in the picture above) and the dripping spheres offer a distraction. I can’t help finding my eyes moving over the piece constantly…it is difficult to kow where to settle.
Hypo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I can’t think that I have knowingly seen any of his work on the streets of Bristol but will keep my eyes and ears open for any news about him.
One of the real gems from Upfest 2017 was this beautiful depiction of Frida Kahlo by the hugely talented artist Alexander Tadlock. Born in California, Tadlock was raised in Mexico which would explain the choice of subject for his Upfest piece.
Alexander Tadlock, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
There is a wonderful short biography of the artist on the ‘Greatest Paka Photography’ Flickr account which provides some background to his education and inspirations.
Alexander Tadlock, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
For me, and many others, this was a truly outstanding piece, for many reasons. Firstly, the artwork is highly accomplished, secondly, the subject of the piece is iconic and captivation and thirdly, the colours are vibrant and draw you to the piece. As I said, outstanding.
Alexander Tadlock, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
I came away from Upfest with a few ‘eyeworms’ (is there such a thing?) and this beauty from Tadlock was one of them.
Looking back a little to July, I came across this weird and wonderful piece from Thelochnessmonster tucked away on the long-term hoardings in Armada Place – a favourite haunt of this particular graffiti artist.
Thelochnessmonster, Armada Place, Bristol, July 2017
As with all his pieces, there is quite a lot of symbolism, much of which is quite mysterious. I’m not entirely sure what the spheres being held by the monster’s tentacles actually represent, but they are important to the piece as a whole.
Thelochnessmonster, Armada Place, Bristol, July 2017
Thelochnessmonster has such a distinctive style, and one that is very different from any of the other artists on the Bristol scene. I think the best word to describe his work is ‘organic’, it is a far cry from the highly geometric/designed pieces that we see more frequently in the city. Another interesting piece.
Natural adventures 