This is a lovely piece from Nightwayss sprayed as part of a paint jam, which, on reflection, I perhaps ought to have posted as a bundle or collaborative wall, but I didn’t, so there.
Nightwayss, Catherine Mead Street, Bristol, November 2021
In recent months Nightwayss has been experimenting with these fragmented pieces, playing with portraits, light shapes and disassociation. The overall effect is a contemporary take on street art and really brings out the fine artist in Nightwayss. Alas, there are no monkeys in this piece, but it is nonetheless a really interesting and challenging piece of art.
It looks like Zake has been taken under the wing of PWA (Pirate Wall Art crew) recently, at least he seems to be painting a lot alongside Face 1st, Soap and Nightwayss. This is a superb and fun collaboration between Face 1st, Soap and Zake, and plays to their collective strengths.
Soap, Face 1st and Zake, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2021
I like this collaboration, because it is a merger of all three artists, with the outer two smiling girls from Face 1st, the laughing scull/mouths from Soap and the jolly centrepiece from Zake. All of these characters set on a boiling bubble splash of orange, red and pink. A joyful and fun collaboration, which I don’t think lasted too long – nothing much does on this wall these days.
The Bristol street art scene simply wouldn’t be what it is without the metronomic consistency of artists like Face 1st. These artists provide the foundations upon which all other artists build their works and reputations, but without this underground culture, street art would likely struggle in the city. Just look at those towns which have no culture of graffiti or street art and then host a festival, the legacy although stunning dies off and appears to be fake. Don’t get me wrong, I love seeing street art wherever it is, but people like Face 1st provide an authenticity that you simply can’t replicate through commissions alone.
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol October 2021
This is a revisiting of one of Face 1st’s favourite themes, a girl’s laughing face with a hairdo made out of the word FACE. Lovely colours, nicely painted and everything I would want it to be.
This is a joyous celebration of Pirate Wall Art (PWA) by Soap, Face 1st and Nightwayss alongside the slip road off the M32 J2 roundabout. In this piece the three friends have combined to fill the space with icons and tags that they use in their work. It is almost like a giant doodle, and a concept these three are having some fun with at the moment.
Face 1st, Soap and Nightwayss, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2021
There are so many little bits to this collaboration, and it is one of those true collaborations where all the artists have combined to make the whole. The faces are by Face 1st, the mouthy skulls are by Soap and the monkeys by Nightwayss. The only mystery is the blue-faced character with the crown, top left, which I think is by Soap.
Face 1st, Soap and Nightwayss, M32 Spot, Bristol, October 2021
What an absolutely fabulous classic from Face 1st. It is pieces like this that first led me to appreciate the work of this rather underrated graffiti artist. Face 1st has been relentless in his pursuit of bringing smiles to people’s faces, and with this blue face girl he succeeds perfectly.
Face 1st, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2021
The colours used are really attractive and easy on the eye, and the typical smiling girl with the letters FACE for hair is pure Face 1st at his very best. I love this piece to bits.
This extraordinary piece from Nightwayss is really pushing boundaries for the artist and is notable for its absence of monkeys. I believe that the piece might be based on a self portrait, and there seems to be some agonising soul-searching going on here.
Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, July 2021
The piece was painted as part of Eman’s birthday paint jam, so I had a chance to catch up with Nightwayss. Unfortunately his effervescence slightly freaked out my long-suffering dog, who is dragged around Bristol’s graffiti spots, and who decided to bark a lot every time Nightwayss tried to stroke him, rendering conversation a little tricky.
Nightwayss, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, August 2021
There is no doubt that Nightwayss is a very skilled artist, and he has pulled off this concept very well, with the face and skull beautifully finished. An unusual and compelling piece.
What we have here is a fabulous panoramic, segmented take-over by PWA artists Face 1st, Soap and Nightwayss up at Purdown Battery. I’m not sure that I have seen a themed section of walls up here before and the overall impact is stunning.
Face 1st, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2021
The first panel is by Face 1st and contains a boy and a girl holding gems. This is remarkable in one major aspect, I don’t think I have ever seen Face 1st paint a smiling boy before – it is a rare thing indeed.
Soap, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2021
The middle panel, set back, is rather more traditional fare from Soap, who is really going large on his gems at the moment. I really do need to fins out what they are all about, because their inclusion in his pieces is becoming almost obsessive.
Nightwayss, Purdown Battery, Bristol, July 2021
The triptych is rounded off nicely with a ferocious piece from Nightwayss, in which a nightmarish monkey (what else?) is using a spray can. Some of his pieces are turning a little passive/aggressive at the moment and becoming a little more edgy – I am not complaining mind, graffiti art is edgy by definition.
All in all a wonderful theatrical collaboration from the PWA boys.
It would seem that since joining PWA, Nightwayss has been painting more frequently and seems to be enjoying his collaborations. This wonderful piece is in the middle of a Face 1st, Nightwayss and Soap triptych, and incorporates the recently devised PWA wobbly line border.
Nightwayss, Greenbank, Bristol, June 2021
Nightwayss’ pieces are well known for featuring monkeys and apes and in this piece he doesn’t disappoint. A ghoulish giant ape is consuming a train (I think), and behind is a fabulously written ‘NIGHT’. With all the dots in the background, there is a feel of comic book print about the piece, and the theme adds to that feel. A great piece.
The Pirate Wall Art (PWA) boys have been very busy this year both as individuals and as collaborators. They have also introduced a bit on a new look theme to their more recent work, which is well demonstrated in this nice piece from Soap.
Soap, M32 roundabout, Bristol, June 2021
The new theme is to frame the piece in a wobbly border, and it is something that Soap, Nightwayss and Face 1st are incorporating into their work. It is a PWA thing. This is a rather nice self-contained piece with Soap’s mouth/skull icon, this time attached to a body, and a hand bearing a large gem. Next time I see Soap, I must ask him what the gem thing is all about – he has been featuring them in his work for about six months now. Great fun piece.
This was a rather nice little quick collaboration from Face 1st, Soap and Zake that rather predictably didn’t last very long. Turbo Island is a funny spot. Sometimes a piece can last for weeks there, but more often anything that is painted gets tagged within 24 hours and then it is up to someone else to pick up the batton.
Face 1st, Soap and Zake, Turbo Island, Bristol, June 2021
Of course, we know that PWA boys Face 1st and Soap are regular painting buddies, but it is great to see Zake join them in this collaboration. Face 1st and Soap have merged their pieces in red with their trademark face and mouth/skull respectively. To the right, the Zake face reminds me very much of a ‘man in the moon’ type character, and has so much expression, looking over at the other two.
Natural adventures 