63. Anchor Road

This rather threatening Nick Walker stencil from 2013 caused the tiniest storm in a teacup when a Bristol resident complained to the Council about the work, complaining that it was an abuse of childhood. The way the law works is that the owner of the property can choose not to have the graffiti removed if that is what they wish, in in this instance the owner liked it and it has stayed.

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015

The same stencil appeared as part of a commission of Nick Walker’s art in a hotel car park in Indianapolis. How good is that?

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015

There is a final and rather sad end to this blog (updated in March 2016, whilst compressing images) which is that the door was stolen, and it now looks like the picture below. I think that the thief tried to flog it, but couldn’t so handed it into the authorities in the NW of England…or I might be making that bit up.

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, December 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, December 2015

8/10

62. Stokes Croft corner wall (2)

Adjacent to the iconic Stinkfish portrait that signals you are in Stokes Croft is a reasonably recent work by 3Dom with its trademark vibrant colours and rather surreal subject matter. A great addition to the area.

3Dom, Stikes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
3Dom, Stikes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
3Dom, Stikes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
3Dom, Stikes Croft, Bristol, September 2015

61. Picton Lane (2)

Rich pickings indeed from Picton Lane. This is the first solo 3Dom wall that I have featured in my posts, and a bit of a curious one to start with. Entitled the Dream Machine Tardis, it is typical of his use of vibrant colours and surreal imagery. I don’t know what it is about, but is is pleasing to my eye.

3Dom, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
3Dom, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

It is well worth reading this brilliant interview with the Bristol-based street artist and finding out why he goes under the name Mike 22 for his indoor gallery work. I am looking forward to posting more of his work.

7/10

60. Picton Lane (1)

My lunchtime stroll today took me to Montpelier, the heart of alternative Bohemian Bristol. Although I live nearby, I don’t know the area well, so I was in for a treat. I veered off the main roads into the back streets, and found walls festooned with murals, mostly by very local artists.

Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

I came across this political piece, which speaks volumes about the severe cuts which are destroying public services. It is a collaboration between Rowdy and Mau Mau. Rowdy is known as one of the longest-standing graffiti artists in the UK, and paints a lot of crocodiles and jagged teeth. Mau Mau’s trademark is a fox, which features in most of his works.

Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015
Mau Mau and Rowdy, Picton Lane, Bristol, November 2015

This was, as far as I can make out, painted on 27 October 2015; so really recent. I am pleased to have seen it so soon after completion.

7.5/10

59. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (1)

This building and its immediate neighbours are arguably the most painted walls in Bristol. Artwork is over-sprayed weekly or sometimes more frequently. You have to be quick if you want to photograph any of it, and some of it is really good.

Hoax, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015

I love this wonderful stencil. I am guessing it is a self-portrait of the artist, but I have no idea who that artist might be. I might have to do some digging around. From the comments below, it would appear to be a piece by Hoax. It is gone now (Jan 2016). Another addition, now in April 2016, I have just noticed a wonderful Face F1st next to the hoax stencil. I am a huge fan of Face F1st.

Hoax, Face F1st, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax, Face F1st, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015

8/10

58. Mark Lane.

Another weird and wacky wheatpaste from Kid Crayon that I posted some time ago to illustrate a haiku, before I started posting about street art.

Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, July 2015
Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, July 2015

I really am warming up to his uncomfortable portraits and his choice of spots. It is strange, but until you start looking for his works you simply don’t see them, or if you do, they don’t seem to register. They are all over Bristol, and I have several more lined up to post.

Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, October 2015
Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, October 2015

I see this boy/man eating cheese most days, and it always makes me smile.

Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, October 2015
Kid Crayon, Mark Lane, Bristol, October 2015

8/10

 

57. Nelson Street hoarding (2)

This is an interesting work by the very prolific Sepr. I am not too sure what the story is with this, but the pigeon has the ring! The work is immediately adjacent to the Andy Council mural featured in a recent post.

Sepr, Nelson Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Nelson Street, Bristol, October 2015

 

 

56. Jubilee Street (1)

This mural rather dates itself with its portrayal of the obsession of the selfie. I guess it is called ‘I’m taking a selfie’. It is one of several works in the immediate vicinity that have the ASK signature on it.

ASK collaboration, Jubilee Street, Bristol, October 2015
ASK collaboration, Jubilee Street, Bristol, October 2015

OK, so I am new to all of this, but it took me quite a while to find out who or what ASK is. It turns out that ASK is a Bristol crew, the acronym stands for After School Klub. As far as I can work out, there are four members of the ASK crew, and they are Epok, Sokem, 3Dom and Sepr. I am not sure which of them is behind this particular work, which is perplexing.

ASK collaboration, Jubilee Street, Bristol, October 2015
ASK collaboration, Jubilee Street, Bristol, October 2015

In addition to ASK, some of their individual or collaborative works are tagged with ASK KTF or ASKTF. The KTF is another TLA (Three Letter Acronym) which I understand to be ‘Keeping Things Fresh’. I will feature more of their works soon.

UPDATE June 2016 – There are at least 14 or so members of ASK, but I still don’t know which members are responsible for this piece.

55. Gloucester Road, Co-operative

I had originally thought that this was an advertising piece, because it is so well proportioned and executed. Of course I was wrong, and have grown fond of the ‘So far so good’ mural by Akarat and Hoax.

Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax and Akarat, Gloucester Road, Bristol, October 2015

Akarat is another Bristol street artist who has emerged from the hip hop and reggae scene. His works usually have some kind of social commentary to them. His favoured techniques would appear to be similar to those used by Nick Walker; stencils and sprays, freehand and rollers. He often collaborates with Hoax another Bristol artist who also enjoys making political statements. I’m not sure why, but Hoax’s signature has been painted over since this was completed.

7/10

54. Midland Street (1)

While shopping today in an old Bristol department store, Gardiner Haskins, in an area I don’t often visit, I discovered a whole area of street art that I haven’t seen before. So many murals.

Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015

I love this Sepr mural ‘no petting’ it is quirky and humorous. He is incredibly prolific in Bristol, and I am pleased to have found this work. More from this area to follow.

Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015
Sepr, Midland Street, Bristol, October 2015

8/10