I simply can’t keep up, not with Mote and not with any other artists either. Whilst it might sound like a complaint, it is not really a bad thing because it signifies a thriving street art and graffiti writing culture in Bristol… as if we didn’t know that already.
Mote, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023
Mote himself, has really been on full throttle lately and this piece on the M32 roundabout is part of his series of bird monsters, that he seems to be particularly keen on at the moment. In these bird pieces, Mote creates a delineation between the face and beak/bill and the rest of the bird, defined by different colour schemes. There is a lot to like about these giant ‘doodles’ and they have become very much a part of the furniture in the city.
After a short pause, Mote has been hitting the streets hard and with larger and ever more complex pieces. This delightful monster, part of as series of ‘birds’, is tucked away in the passageway on the long curved wall at Cumberland Basin.
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2023
Mote doesn’t need to sign his work, as it is so distinctive and original, but he tends to do so with a little upturned crown – here in green at the bottom of the piece. The bird monster is in three main colour blocks, which complement each other nicely. Mote rarely uses prime colours, tending to stick with softer pastel shades, creating a more modest offering than some of the artwork in Bristol. Improving with every new piece, Mote is firmly establishing himself on the Bristol street art scene.
I have a very busy day ahead today, so I only have time to do a really quick couple of posts. When I last met Mote a couple of weeks back, he was rediscovering his mojo, after a quiet period. These monsters in my favourite Moon Street are evidence of his newly rediscovered enthusiasm.
Mote, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2023
Mote has not only been painting with a high frequency, but he has also been visiting a few new spots too. I believe this is his first piece in Moon Street, and he has filled the space here with a nice cheeky quick one.
In his own words, Mote has had a little bit of a quiet patch lately, although I have to say I hadn’t noticed as there is always so much of his work about the place to find. He assures me, though, that he has rediscovered his mojo and his enthusiasm for painting on the streets again, which can only be a good thing.
Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023
This is quite a large piece at the end of the wall in Peel Street Green, featuring another crazy, creative monster. The cartoon style used by Mote renders all of his characters as rather loveable, no matter how many nasty teeth or strange eyes they might have. Mote has left us with a very tidily painted and crisply finished piece here, which is great to see.
An endearing bird monster thing painted by Mote on the hoarding behind Temple Meads Station. Mote is tireless and his imagination limitless, which is a good thing for those of us who like to find his work dotted around the City.
Mote, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2023
This rather forlorn creature is nicely composed, and the soft tones work well together. I am guessing that this might have been here a while because it proceeds his wobbly monsters, which started appearing in February this year. Another one for the collection.
Some artists are so prolific, that the only way for me to keep up with them is to post several pieces at once, and so I present to you a series of column pieces under Brunel Way by monster specialist, Mote.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
This first piece is one of his more recent productions, incorporating three wobbly-lined monsters, stacked like a totem pole. The wobbly lines are a recent introduction in his work introduced this year, which give him freedom to be a little bit more creative. I am still sitting on the fence about them, because his original USP was based on the clean lines and bold curves. These might take a little bit of getting used to.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
It is difficult to date some of these pieces, because although I photographed them in February (some of them not for the first time), several have been around for quite a while. I think this one, which looks like a bit of a monster mash-up, is relatively recent.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
This column piece, with the big eye and wonky teeth, has been around for quite a while, but is surprisingly intact, because these columns are a favourite with taggers.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Another one that might date from the back end of last year is this purple gentle and rather goofy giant. The poor thing doesn’t look in the greatest condition, and has a pot-belly not too dissimilar to my own.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Finally, this is a small piece at the southernmost end of this stretch of columns and is probably the oldest piece in this selection. It obviously pre-dates the new bit of wall that has been added as part of the Daveside DIY skate park extension. Phew… I hope you have had your fill of Mote for now.
It is nice to see a Mote piece by the River Avon, demonstrating that he really does get out and about to share his art with the citizens of Bristol. This monster piece follows a recent theme in his work of rather more organic characters with wobbly outlines, rather than the clean lines of his earlier works.
Mote, River Avon, Bristol, February 2023
I think that Mote’s work lends itself well to illustration, and I wonder if that would ever be a direction he might consider. This particular toothy monster isn’t his best, in my opinion, but is another part of his growing menagerie.
Another day and another monster character from Mote, although this one is a little different from his others. I am guessing that this is a representation of a jellyfish kind of creature, and the wobbly border line would probably confirm this.
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023
Unusually, Mote has signed this piece and I can’t think of any other occasion when he has done this, so that comes as a bit of a surprise. If I am honest, I’m not sure that the wobbly line thing works too well, but it is great to see the artist experimenting and stretching himself. Another one for the menagerie.
I believe that this is a reasonably old piece from Mote on one of the columns under Brunel Way, but I have only recently photographed it – there are so many in this spot it is difficult to keep up.
Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023
Every time I have seen this piece, I instantly get images of the caped crusader and am not sure if this is deliberate or accidental on the part of Mote, who is not known for his characters drawn from popular culture, but rather from his imagination. Whatever the inspiration for this column piece, it is cheerful and fun and typically clean as you’d expect from Mote.
Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, February 2024Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, M32 Cycle path, Bristol, January 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024Mr Crawls and Mote, Jubilee Street, Bristol, December 2023Mote, Jubilee Street, Bristol, December 2023Mr Crawls and Mote, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2023Mr Crawls and Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, November 2023Mr Crawls and Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, October 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, September 2023Mote, Feeder Road, Bristol, August 2023Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2023Mote, River Avon, Bristol, July 2023Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, June 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023Mote, Purdown, Bristol, June 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, June 2023Mote, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2023Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, June 2023Mote, River Avon, Bristol, May 2023Mote, Moon Street, Bristol, April 2023Mote, Peel Street Green, Bristol, April 2023Mote, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, March 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, River Avon, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, February 2023Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, January 2023Mote, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2022Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, Deccember 2022Mote, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022Mote, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, November 2022Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, November 2022Mote, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, October 2022Mote, Purdown, Bristol, September 2022Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, August 2022Mote, M32 cycle path, Bristol, July 2022Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022Mote, Brunel Way, Bristol, July 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2022Mote, M32 roundabout, Bristol, July 2022Mote, Cattle Market Road, Bristol, June 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, April 2022Mote, M32 Spot, Bristol, March 2022Mote, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, March 2022
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