6175. M32 Cycle path (272)

Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

This year, we haven’t really had to wait too long before being treated to a Laic217 piece on a reasonably regular basis, and this is one of his most recent works on the M32 cycle path. What Laic217 has presented us with here is a rather trippy, and slightly menacing (those black fingernails like talons) piece that plays into his penchant for face distortion.

Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Laic217, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

Although the piece is nicely executed, I personally find it a little unsettling, which I am sure is the point. Laic217 will push the boundaries in a way that his art can. His solid, tight, block letters contrast really well with the unconventional character portrait. Not my favourite piece by Laic217, but a great example of the way he challenges us to see things.

6169. M32 Cycle path (271)

Bogat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Bogat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

Although Bogat doesn’t paint as frequently as I might like, he does just enough to keep the interest out there, and I am sure that he probably intends to paint more than he does, but as it is for all of us, other stuff gets in the way. This one was painted last month on the wall behind the Black Swan.

Bogat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Bogat, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

Bogat has created a colourful cartoon character using the two-tone light and dark technique for his base colours. Many artists use this method and probably the best example of this is Bean, who uses it to great effect. I particularly like the eyes of this character, which look like they have flat reflections, almost as if they were glasses. I’ll be keeping my eyes peeled for more from Bogat.

6163. M32 Cycle path (270)

Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

What a surprise this piece by Face 1st is. I don’t think I have ever seen anything like it from him before, and had he not signed it, I might have struggled to guess it was one of his, although once you know, there are some signs you can read with hindsight.

Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Face 1st, M32 cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

There is something very beautiful and homely about this piece and I assume it is a portrait of Ella, one of his children maybe. I find the whole piece very touching and full of love. I particularly like the wooden table, and the girl’s freckles. I love it when artists do something unexpected like this, demonstrating their range and versatility. This is brilliant from Face 1st.

6136. M32 Cycle path (269)

Hypo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Hypo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

Hypo has been smashing it for a while now, and not only creating some outstanding graffiti writing pieces, but also switching things up a fair bit too, in terms of style and presentation. In this piece on the M32 Cycle path, he has framed his letters within quite a tight area, and pulled it off really well.

Hypo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Hypo, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

The gold and silver letters are nicely designed with a kind of post-industrial weight to them, there is chunkiness and brutalism about the letters, and the red border with big drips speaks of a kind of pain, a bloodletting that comes with industrialisation. My interpretation only of course. Something a little different and challenging but also well presented by Hypo.

6120. M32 Cycle path (268)

 

Hemper, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Hemper, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

In Bristol we are spoilt and have become accustomed to seeing extraordinary wildstyle graffiti writing from Hemper on a regular basis. This wonderful organic piece is simply the latest in an outstanding series from the talented artist.

Hemper, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024
Hemper, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, June 2024

The letters spell out HEMS and have remarkable depth to them created through both incredible design and technique using light and shade. The whole thing almost looks like a metal plate or buckle slapped onto the wall. Subtle colours, shiny light and a cool drippy border all contribute to the overall 3D effect. What a beauty.

6084. M32 Cycle path (267)

 

Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2024
Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2024

It is great to see Benjimagnetic out and about again after a bit of a winter lull. He appears to have returned with a slight upgrade to his style that feels rather fresher and is exciting. The colours of this piece shout out loudly and attract the eye, with the orange splashes rounding things off so well.

Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2024
Benjimagnetic, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, May 2024

The letters BEN can be seen if you know to look for them. Benjimagnetic is known for his tidy designs and styling made up of thin lines, which can be seen throughout this piece. Well finished and classy, this is a lovely piece by the artist, and a taste of things to come.

6025. M32 Cycle path (266)

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024

I had to return to this spot to get some decent photographs of this unusual piece by Taboo, as the first lot were covered in shadows, but that is how it works. I work on the principle of always taking pictures of a new piece, whatever the light conditions, because it could be tagged or overpainted within hours. If I get a second chance to take better pictures, then that is a bonus.

Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024
Taboo, M32 cycle path, Bristol, May 2024

Taboo has had quite a quiet period over the last six months or so, so it was good to find this one on the Cycle path. In his unique antistyle graffiti writing, Taboo manages to combine his unusual letters with characters, in this case a kind of grinning pig. I suspect the pig reference relates to the police, because he has included the words “No good cops. (Sorry)” which I guess is a polite way of saying ACAB. Looking forward to seeing more from Taboo as the summer unfolds.

6018. M32 Cycle path (265)

Mind 49 and Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Mind 49 and Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

Regular readers may be experiencing ‘déjà vu’ on seeing this fine collaboration from Wxttsart and Mind 49, as they have overwritten and incorporated elements of their last collaboration on this exact spot, and the unobservant might have missed the ‘update’ altogether.

Mind 49 and Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Mind 49 and Wxttsart, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

The ‘old’ work is the purple and cream script by Wxttsart running through the middle of the piece which has a clever ‘ripped wallpaper’ look to it and has been augmented with fresh writing at the top and bottom of the piece that appears to spell out MYLK, (milk being Wxttsart’s moniker). The portrait, by Mind 49, is rather larger than its predecessor and beautifully executed. Mind 49 manages to paint informal portraits in a photorealistic style while retaining a softness about them, and this is a prime example. Both artists have combined (again) perfectly to create this striking collaboration piece.

Wxttsart and Mind 49, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024
Wxttsart and Mind 49, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024

6017. M32 Cycle path (264)

Minto, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Minto, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

Minto keeps his work ticking over nicely with a fairly regular weekly/fortnightly contribution, and each and every piece is a cracker. Minto has a distinctive style and creative streak that makes for outstanding graffiti writing – character combinations and mash-ups.

Minto, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Minto, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

This piece, on the Cycle path behind the Black Swan, looks like a bit of a quick one and features trainers, something of a theme for the artist at the moment… that and camper vans – perhaps we can read into that a profile of his lifestyle. The letters, which spell out Minto, are nicely rounded off with a yellow and orange border. So good to have him back in Bristol.

5985. M32 Cycle path (263)

Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

Biers has been rolling out a good deal of wonderful writing/character combination pieces over the last year or so, and is deeply embedded in a rich vein of form. This piece is painted along the narrowest stretch of cycle path and getting pictures, even with wide angle capability, is tricky at best.

Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024
Biers, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, April 2024

The WD40 letters are filled with a magnificent blue patterning, with some awesome designs floating on rippled blues. The character is Courage the Cowardly Dog, from a cartoon series screened in the late ’90s early ’00s, which passed me by completely – I was too busy trying to be a grown up. Set on a deep red background, this is a classy piece of work from Biers.