Tag: North Street

656. North Street hoarding (6)

It seems like these hoardings have been here on North Street for years…because I think they have been. This is of course ok, because it presents graffiti artists with plenty of space to do their work.  This particular niche is a favourite for John D’oh and RIP, and here we have a philosophical piece from the latter.

RIP, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
RIP, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

The statement, positioned next to a heart reads ‘With all the battering it’s taken I’m surprised it’s still ticking’. Perhaps this lets on something about the artist’s lifestyle. I do like RIP’s work. Never too snazzy or complicated, usually a single layer stencil and often lighthearted or political. A vibrant member of SSOSVA.

600. North Street No. 173

A turkey isn’t just for Christmas…or on second thoughts a turkey is just for Christmas, apart from this one by Andy Council on North Street in Bedminster.

Andy Council, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
Andy Council, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

This colourful shutter piece gives us what we expect from Andy Council; an animal form created from architectural ‘blocks’ and local icons, in this example Concord forming the crest of the bird. Instantly recognisable, his works encourage close inspection to figure out all the micro-stories going on in the piece.

Andy Council, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
Andy Council, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

Sorry about the bins in this one – I guess I should have moved the one on the right of the picture, but I feel it is good to see these things in their context sometimes.

593. Upfest 2016 (87)

Jody is no stranger to the streets of Bristol and I have featured works of his before, most recently this Virgin Mary just off North Street. He was one of the established Bristol artists at last year’s Upfest and took over a tricky wall that had previously been occupied by Osch and his tiger.

Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I watched this piece by Jody take shape over the two days of the festival, and visited the scene a few days later to get a decent view of the piece. It is absolutely stunning. Clean, fresh and with a story going on.

Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This wall, however, must be the most difficult to photograph of all the walls used at Upfest. Try as I might, I just don’t seem to be able to get a decent shot. I notice that Jody took one from the top of the building opposite, but not all of us are fortunate enough to get such a privileged view.

Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I do like this piece, and admire it every time I walk up North Street. A great piece by the self-styled ‘aerosol artist’.

Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Jody, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

 

588. Upfest 2016 (82)

OK, I know, I just posted a piece by Face the Strange, and here we have another one. I have done this deliberately because I think that each of them deserves a post to themself. Occasionally I will combine pieces by the same artist, but mostly I like to concentrate on each work. It just so happens that there are two by FTS in a row.

Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July2016
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July2016

I love this small paste up. It could have been easily missed, lurking on a doorway behind a tub of recycling. But take a closer look at this TV set and you will see that there is a still from ‘a Clockwork Orange’ and in the spirit of things, FTS has replaced the heads of the characters with oranges wearing bowler hats. Any artistic reference to this great film has to be a good thing. This wheatpaste is witty and fun, and the style of FTS’s work is always slightly unsettling and anarchic. Great work.

587. Upfest 2016 (81)

Face the Strange seemed to have a great time at Upfest 2016, spreading the love all over North Street with a fine selection of his wheatpastes, each one of them curiouas and humorous.

Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Face the Strange, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

This one seems to show four red-shirted gentlemen with projector or television tubes for heads. Nobody said that peculiar wasn’t allowed at Upfest, so Face the Strange has provided it in bucket-loads. A commentary on techno-geek-physics-heads? Reminds me a little of Kraftwerk, remember them?

 

578. North Street Green (5)

Gemma Compton’s work is rather special, usually incorporating wildlife and in particular insects and birds. In this beautiful example she has created a series of hawk moths (death’s head?) laid out in a pattern, with her customary blue and white background.

Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016

The piece almost feels like a study or looks like something from a scientific collection. The moths are inanimate and objects to be admired, rather than thriving living insects. Another facet of her work is her great drips in this case as a sort of back wash.

Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Gemma Compton, North Street, Bristol, November 2016

The piece I posted at Wapping Wharf recently also has one of these moths and copious drips. I think both were created at around the same time. What is not to like about her magnificent work?

572. North Street Green (4)

This is a special wall just off North Street, opposite the Upfest shop. The wall is a bit like the PRSC outdoor gallery, in that it is a place where street artists can show off their great works in the near certainty that it will not get tagged. The wall is respected.

Jody, North Street Green, Bristol, January 2017
Jody, North Street Green, Bristol, January 2017
Jody created this free hand piece of the Virgin Mary just before Christmas and had to battle with the elements whilst doing it, according to his Instagram feed. I think it was well worth the effort

The colours used are reminiscent of those he used to paint the hands and moth, further along North Street last year. There is something about this colour combination that is difficult to photograph, there is quite a lot of reflection, which you don’t get with the naked eye. The point being that the photographs don’t do it justice. It is a beautiful and spiritual piece, like much of his work. All good. 

 

570. Moon Street (18)

What an unexpected pleasure, not only to find a P0G0 piece in Bristol, not only to find a paste up by P0G0 in Bristol but to find TWO paste ups by P0G0 on the same day in different parts of town. I am indeed a lucky seeker.

P0G0, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, Moon Street, Bristol, January 2017
The paste up is the same one in each location and both are in street art ‘hotspots’. You will remember the amazing piece by P0G0 from Upfest, which really was one of the highlights of the festival. THe first one I found was in Moon Street.

P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
The second one is in amongst the hoardings on North Street in Bedminster, surrounded by stencil work from John D’oh amongst others. I read on P0G0’s Instagram feed that he had been in town to visit Upfest…I am guessing it migh have had something to do with the launch of the Upfest book. I love it that these artists see every visit, every wall as an opportunity.

P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017
P0G0, North Street, Bristol, January 2017

A red letter day.

524. North Street, Standard (3)

It would appear that the wonderful Hannah Adamaszek recently paid a visit to Bristol and left us with this beautiful portrait on North Street. The colours and earthy tones are typical of her amazing work, and the face is calmness itself.

Hannah Adamaszek, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Hannah Adamaszek, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
All of Hannah’s work has this peaceful quality…perhaps if there was more of her work out there the world would be a more peaceful place. I know it sounds cheesy, but that’s how I feel about a lot of street art.

Hannah Adamaszek, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Hannah Adamaszek, North Street, Bristol, November 2016
Come back soon Hannah, you are always welcome.

460. North Street

On a shop front in North Street, there is this tiny micro-stencil by John D’oh. It is really beautiful, and something of a departure from his more political art. Saucy, and I love it.

John D'oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016
John D’oh, North Street, Bristol, July 2016