Tag: Star and Garter

6848. Star and Garter (9)

Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025
Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025

There are a clutch of graffiti writers who have only recently come on to my radar. I cannot work out if they are new to Bristol or whether I have just had a blind spot, when it comes to their work. Artists such as Squire, Mage and in this instance Short.

Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025
Short, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2025

Of course, by their nature, these graffiti writers are quite secretive, and it is difficult to find out much about them. Short has painted some nice joined up letters in lilac, with a classic striped 3D drop shadow and black border. There is nothing fancy, and the fill is relatively plain, but there is something compelling about the letter shapes. Expect more here from Short soon.

5975. Star and Garter (8)

Kid Krishna and Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Kid Krishna and Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Those boys have been smashing it lately, and by those boys I mean Kid Krishna and Marckinetic. It doesn’t seem to matter what spot I go to, with the exception of Dean Lane, I can usually expect to find something from this pair. And this one in the green adjacent to the Star and Garter in Montpelier/St Paul’s is an absolute beauty.

Kid Krishna, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Kid Krishna, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Kid Krishna is a prolific artist once he is on a roll, but can be prone to stopping altogether for a while… it can very much be fits and starts from him. This one is a cornucopia piece, so full of wonderful colours and movement, it almost feels like the whole thing is swirling around in front of your eyes. This takes abstract writing to another level and verges on the trippy. The focal point of this organic ball of colour is perfectly offset by the atmospheric cosmic style background. This is truly wonderful work from Kid Krishna.

Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024
Marckinetic, Star and Garter, Bristol, April 2024

Next to Kid Krishna is something a little more formulaic, but only by comparison, by Marckinetic that highlights his unusual approach to writing the letters FFS (I think). The characteristic long straight letters are interlocked and slightly juxtaposed with the circular element at the end. His cosmic fills are sensational and like Kid Krishna’s piece the letters contrast perfectly with the background. Long may this purple patch continue.

3562. Star and Garter (7)

A really unusual, and if I might say slightly scary, portrait piece from Rosalita Raw on the side wall of the Star and Garter in St Paul’s. Why is it that carnival imagery, which is supposed to be bright, happy and entertaining so easily drifts into the dark and edgy?

Rosalita, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2021
Rosalita, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2021

Rosalita has had an exceptional six months or so, and I am loving every second of this upsurge in activity from her. This piece is really nicely worked, and shares some similarities with Pekoe’s style although a little bit more detailed in the facial features. Who is she winking at? Is it a knowing wink or an affectionate wink? Unusual and compelling.

3005. Star and Garter (6)

Since lock down measures were eased At the end of May, 3Dom and Sepr have collaborated on several occasions and are absolutely smashing it with each new wall they paint. This wall opposite the Star and Garter marks the Black Lives Matter campaign in two very different ways.

3Dom, Star and Garter, Bristol, June 2020
3Dom, Star and Garter, Bristol, June 2020

3Dom has opted for a big bold statement “Unity is Power” set on a red and orange background which gives the whole thing a kind of explosive impact. The large letters have shading that has a central vanishing point so the whole thing looks like it is heading straight for us. Nicely done, and unusual writing from 3Dom.

Bday plus 047 7-10 June 2020_edited

Contrast that with Sepr’s birds. His piece tells us a complete story in the simplest way possible. The three birds are identical in every way except their colouring and they are proudly marching hand in hand. This is an exceptional piece which deserves as much exposure as it can get. Poignant and relevant and not preachy.

Bday plus 048 7-10 June 2020_edited

2903. Star and Garter (5)

When I find pieces by Tasha Bee in my archive it only reinforces my sadness that it has been quite some while since I last saw a new piece by her. She has been busy with other projects, but I hope her absence from the street art scene is only temporary.

Tasha Bee, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018
Tasha Bee, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018

This piece on the wall of the Star and Garter from November 2018 is truly beautiful. Her style is instantly recognisable and often solemn, although there is the slightest hint of cheekyness in this girls face – or is that just me? Great colours and so typically Tasha Bee.

 

2851. Star and Garter (4)

Strictly speaking, this is not the Star and Garter but the building opposite it, but it is in the general area. This wonderful collaboration was completed shortly before the lock down and is between painting partners Sled One and Ments.

Sled One, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020
Sled One, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020

On the left is a beautifully sprayed pigeon in a style that you would instantly associate with Sled One. The bread thing going on? I’m not sure but it could be a pun on pigeon toast instead of pigeon post, but it might be something else altogether.

Sled One, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020
Sled One, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020

Sled One pieces are often quite mysterious and although there is pretty much always a story going on, understanding it can be tricky. The fabulous colours used and his technique of clever shading to create a 3D effect are of the highest quality in this piece.

Ments, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020
Ments, Star and Garter, Bristol, March 2020

Ments, whose work has always had an organic flavour to it, has been experimenting of late with a range of forms and textures, including spheres and metallic objects. This is a really unusual abstract piecem that looks slightly unfinished in the top left hand corner. I will be interested to watch where this new directtion for Ments will take us.

2363. Star and Garter (3)

The tribute on this wall, to Dutty Ken by Haka, is most fitting and appropriate as it is painted on the side wall of the Star and Garter pub where Dutty Ken had been landlord and DJ since 1993 up until his sudden death in early 2017.

Haka, Star and Garter, Bristol, July 2019
Haka, Star and Garter, Bristol, July 2019

Although the portrait is not the truest likeness it conveys the fondness in which Dutty Ken was held, and if you look carefully you can see another tribute on the same wall. This wall was given the makeover in time for this year’s St Paul’s carnival. A touching piece from Haka.

1868. Star and Garter (2)

A new wall (for me) and a new artist (for me) is a rare and pleasurable thing in documenting the spectrum of opportunity and talent in Bristol’s street/graffiti art community. This unusual and interesting piece (there is a story unfolding here) is, I think, by Rosalita of PWA (Pirate Wall Art). The reason I believe this, is because Rosalita was tagged in an Instagram post by Soap (also PWA) who had been painting the wall on the same day and which I posted a few days ago.

Rosalita, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018
Rosalita, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018

I love the Russian doll idea and the two halves exposing a heart. The doll’s lips are stitched together suggesting some frustration perhaps. Like I said before, there is a story here…perhaps one of heartbreak. For sure though it is an unusual piece.

1864. Star and Garter (1)

I have known this spot for a long while now, and have visited it a couple of times in the past, but there hasn’t been much that I have been able to get my teeth in to…that is until now. This is a really fabulous piece of writing from PWA’s Soap. Great design, vibrant colours and lovely crisp lines.

Soap, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018
Soap, Star and Garter, Bristol, November 2018

I particularly like the way the colours bleed out of the top right hand side in smokey clouds – a clever effect. PWA (Pirate Wall Art) have really been showing the way over the last six months or so, and are a dominant force in the Bristol street art scene. Great spot, great work from Soap.