This little area of columns at the M32 Spot is very much favoured by Zake and there are a few of his pieces that have remained here for about a year untouched by taggers or other artists – quite unusual really and perhaps a gesture to his unusual face pieces.
Zake, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2020
The inclusion of a portion of neck lends itself well to spraying character portraits on these narrow columns and Zake has perfected the art. The absence of pupils gives Zake’s pieces a ghostly appearance that is a little unsettling, which combined with humorous expressions leaves the viewer on edge slightly. I like his work and am pleased that he has started painting again after a quiet winter period.
It is good news indeed that Nightwayss has started to paint outside again and is sharing his talent with the citizens of Bristol after a bit of a layoff over the winter. What I love about his work is that he switches things up a lot. Sometimes writing, sometimes characters or scenes and sometimes a combination. He is not only talented but is versatile too.
Nightwayss, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2020
This column piece is an imaginative and aesthetically pleasing piece using the space brilliantly. A monkey (of course) is, as we all know, trying to escape from a spray can and would account for at least one of these wonderful creatures appearing in nearly all of his work. Great greens and a great concept nicely painted. More from Nightwayss to come soon.
Sometimes it is better not to write too much about a piece, especially when it is this good. Smak posted this on Instagram and said what a banging board this is, and I quite agree. Hats off to whoever erected it under the M32.
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
This writing is close to perfect and there is something that is extra good about it, it might be the choice of vibrant and contrasting colours. Anyhow it is simply a really good example of how great technical graffiti writing can be.
Another lovely portrait piece from Lobe, taken through railings at the M32 Spot. You can see the chanelled River Frome behind the pillar. The river passes under the city centre in a culvert, beneath Cabots Circus and Broadmead shopping centres, beneath the old fire station, beneath the fountains in the centre, along towards the Arnolfini, then it is siphoned underneath the floating harbour before eventually discharging into the New Cut. If only Bristolians knew what lies only a couple of meters beneath their feet.
Lobe, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
Back to the art and this wonderful face in the typical style of Lobe, that is with thick bold black outlines and strong fills in only two or three shades. I’m not sure if those are eyes or half-moon spectacles. If they are the latter, then they are upside down. More from Lobe to come.
Finding a piece like this magnificent collaboration from PWA artists Soap and Face 1st gives me such tremendous pleasure and confirms for me that the time I spend finding, photographing and writing about street art is time very well spent. These two are capable of creating some magical images and there is a real sense of fun and mischief about these ones.
Soap, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
First up is a sword–swallowing act from Soap in which his mouth character lends itself to a different take on visualising this dangerous act. There are many things to admire here, such as the garland of flowers and the carefully thought out use of blue tones, I particularly like the swirl patterns in the shading.
Joining the two elements of the collaboration is a lovely splat pattern, but it is difficult to be sure which of these two painted it.
Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
On the right is one of my favourite Face 1st pieces ever, and that is a very high bar. There is something so joyful about these two giggling girls mischievously spraying each other with paint and there is a balance to it reminiscent of yin and yang. What Face 1st lacks in sharp, crisp lines he more than makes up for in heart and soul. His work speaks to me.
Soap and Face 1st, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
On the one-way top end of Stapleton Road, it would be nice to think that drivers would glance to their right and admire this free art to cheer up their lives, but I bet most wouldn’t even notice it.
This is not an easy place to photograph. The spot is sandwiched between two busy slip roads underneath the M32, and just for added difficulty, access is over fences and the River Frome runs through the middle. I haven’t yet ventured into the spot and these photographs are taken through a bit of railing some distance away.
Smak, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
There is little I can say about Smak’s work that I haven’t said dozens of times before, but even in this tricky spot where only a few will ever get to see the piece his work is 100 per cent on point. There is a consistent font style to his letters and his shadinngs are utterly awesome. One huge advantage about this spot is that tagging tends to be pretty much absent.
Although Feek and 3Dom like to collaborate, it is not too common these days to find a new piece by these two. What a lovlely surprise then to find this one down at the M32 Spot. This particular board is becoming a bit of a goldmine, especially during this very damp winter we have been having.
Feek and 3Dom, M32 Spot, Bristol, February 2020
On the left is a beautiful pencil character by Feek which appears to have drawn the stunning piece of graffiti writing next to it. 3Dom is an alolrounder who seems to be equally comfortable with graffiti writing as he is with character pieces and abstract pieces, he seems to have it all in his armoury. There is some writing on the piece which reads:
The weight of it was killing me… the warmth of it was keeping me alive.
I’m not too sure if this is a quote or to what it refers, but it feels fairly profound. I like the little shout out to Ryder and Decay, whose collaboration was the previous occupant on this board.
I think that this is the second collaboration between Logoe and Haka in as many months, and both have apeared on this board under the M32 in the DIY skate spot. It is not often that I like my photographs, always something wrong with them, but I actually like this one, somehow the colours of the piece stand out well against the dark top and bottom, but have not been bleached out by the light to either side.
Logoe and Haka, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2020
Logoe has written his name in his script style set on a rather nice red tone abstract background. He has added to the work the sentence ‘What a year it’s been’ and he is not wrong there. On the right Haka has included a character into his chrome writing which I believe to be Hanna Barbera’s creation Quick Draw McGraw – a cartoon I don’t think I ever saw, but rather wish I had… I might have to consult with YouTube. All in all a most satisfying collaboration from these two established Bristol artists.
On one of the ramps of the M32 DIY skatepark is this rather sombre looking face, unmistakably the work of Slakarts. This picture was taken way back in January, before I knew who the artist was, and it has been languishing in my archive ever since. This is liberation day. It is also election day and the results will map out our national journey for the next five years… I fear the worst.
Slakarts, M32 Spot, Bristol, January 2019
Slakarts paints using broad black outlines with solid fills to create his trademark faces which are often coloured with muted tones. The works are modest, both in creation and design and there is often a sadness or strangeness in the faces – this piece in particular feels peculiar without an iris or pupil in the eye. More to come from Slakarts.
This is a very neat and tidy ‘quick one’ from Ryder, which I suspect was painted at the same time as the recent collaboration with Decay, which can be seen in the background of the feature image.
Ryder, M32 Spot, Bristol, November 2019
I always expect tidy writing from Ryder and this is a lovely example, I would however like to see a few more of his larger considered pieces like the ones he produces for Upfest. A hugely talented graffiti writer whose work is right up there with the best in Bristol.
Natural adventures 