Tag: Stencil

175. Cheltenham Road, No 126

I found this lovely tribute to DJ Derek, the first of many I suspect, along the Cheltenham Road at the back end of last week. It is by Lemak and I believe was completed on 3 April 2016.

Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016
Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016

Lemak originally comes from Fleetwood but is currently based in Bristol.He was originally inspired by stencil artists and first took to spraying in 2011. I think this work is very accomplished, and the stencil portrait of DJ Derek is a fine and fitting tribute.

Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016
Tribute to DJ Derek by Lemak, Cheltenham Road, Bristol, April 2016

DJ Derek, was a locally well known septuagenarian disc jockey who played at clubs all around Bristol and beyond. He mysteriously went missing in July and his body was found in March this year. More on this in my posts 31. Leonard Lane (3) and 146. The Bearpit (6).

145. Redland Road

I am always taken by this amazing and simple stencil on a railway bridge in Redland. The image of a baby’s face by an unknown artist is stencil work in its most raw form. One also has to admire the artist’s determination at spraying in such locations. Do they drop down from the railway, or climb up from a ladder?

Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015
Unknown artist, Redland Road, Bristol, December 2015

I love this stripped-back simple graffiti.

7.5/10

141. The Bearpit (5)

Another tricky one today. This amazing piece is the left hand side of a larger piece entitled Lifestyles of the Poor and Dangerous.

Hoax? and Akarat? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Hoax? and Akarat? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

I managed to track down the artists of this whole wall via DNT’s Instagram feed, and it would appear that it was a collaboration by Akarat, DNT, BS51, Klue and Hoax.

Hoax? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Hoax? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

The two stencils here I would guess are by Hoax and Akarat. This piece I think was sprayed in mid-February 2016.

Akarat? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Akarat? The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

These stencils are exceptional. Get down to The Bearpit and check them out.

Hoax? Akarat? and DNT Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016
Hoax? Akarat? and DNT Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2016

The stencil of the child with the gun also has recently (March 3 2016) appeared in Stokes Croft at number 37.

8/10

 

 

116. Gloucester Road, No 212

Room 212 is an art shop that promotes and sells the works of local artists, on the Gloucester Road about half way between Bishopston and Horfield. To my shame I have not yet visited the shop, but having looked at their website, I will make a visit soon, if only to buy a Stewy print.

Above the shop front is a fabulous stencil of Cary Grant sitting cross legged and waving to passers by.

Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol
Cary Grant by Stewy, Gloucester Road, Bristol

Stewy specialises in artworks of iconic people and tends to spray them close to where they live/once lived. In this case, Cary Grant (Archibald Leach) lived very nearby, and went to the local primary school in Bishop Road before heading out to the USA. Locals are very proud of their world famous son.

This is a typically understated stencil by Stewy, and hits the mark perfectly.

8.5/10

114. Pallant North, Chichester (2)

My mother tipped me off about this one a couple of weeks ago when she saw it on a shopping trip in Chichester. I cannot express how pleased I was, firstly that my mum is quite cool and secondly that JPS has hit Chichester with one of my favourite stencils.

JPS, North Pallant, Chichester
JPS, North Pallant, Chichester

I wrote about this stencil (in Bristol) in my second street art blog, and it remains one of my favourite works of any street artist.

JPS, North Pallant, Chichester
JPS, North Pallant, Chichester

Chichester is one of those cities that has no culture of street art, but held a festival in 2013 (I think), so it is all a bit organised if you know what I mean. The JPS piece adds a little bit of spice as I’m not too sure it was a part of the festival.

Wonderful.

9/10

94. Upper Maudlin Street

I was given a wonderful ‘Banksy’ wall calendar by my mother this Christmas. I noticed that this fabulous image of the Queen has been selected for the month of July. The manufacturers of the calendar are not the only people to have falsely attributed this stencil to Banksy. In July 2012, during the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, all the newspapers heralded this artwork as a new ‘Banksy’.

Inkwell, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, December 2015
Inkwell, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, December 2015

The stencil was actually sprayed by IncWel, is called ‘Still Sane’ and is a direct reference to Bowie’s ‘Alladin Sane’ album cover of 1974. I have not been able to find anything else by IncWel, and there is little information on the Interweb about him.

Inkwell, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, December 2015
Inkwell, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, December 2015

For so many reasons I love this stencil.

9/10

75. Park Row (1)

Mistaken by many for a Banksy, this wonderful stencil is actually by JPS (Jamie Paul Scanlon) and was sprayed in 2013. Clearly it draws on Banksy’s style and subject matter, but that is no surprise as JPS credits his emergence and confidence as a street artist with a visit he made to a Banksy exhibition at Bristol Museum.

JPS, Girl on swing, Park Row, Bristol, November 2015
JPS, Girl on swing, Park Row, Bristol, November 2015

I have written several posts about the work of JPS, and he remains my favourite Bristol-based artist.

JPS, Girl on swing, Park Row, Bristol, November 2015
JPS, Girl on swing, Park Row, Bristol, November 2015

8/10

74. Armada Place (1)

This wonderful stencil depicting how mobile technology is interfering with daily life, is tucked away on a heavily tagged wall and easy to miss. Just off Stokes Croft, it is well worth a visit. To me this is stencil work at its best. Social comment combined with excellent execution and location.

Unknown artist, stencil and graffiti, Armada Place, Bristol, November 2015
Unknown artist, stencil and graffiti, Armada Place, Bristol, November 2015

I’m not too sure what the dynamite is all about (on second inspection I think it is Christmas crackers). Unfortunately I have no idea who the artist is, but will try to find out, and when I do, I will update the post.

UPDATE: I understand the piece is by Goin, a French artist who I belive lives in Bristol.

 

63. Anchor Road

This rather threatening Nick Walker stencil from 2013 caused the tiniest storm in a teacup when a Bristol resident complained to the Council about the work, complaining that it was an abuse of childhood. The way the law works is that the owner of the property can choose not to have the graffiti removed if that is what they wish, in in this instance the owner liked it and it has stayed.

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015

The same stencil appeared as part of a commission of Nick Walker’s art in a hotel car park in Indianapolis. How good is that?

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, April 2015

There is a final and rather sad end to this blog (updated in March 2016, whilst compressing images) which is that the door was stolen, and it now looks like the picture below. I think that the thief tried to flog it, but couldn’t so handed it into the authorities in the NW of England…or I might be making that bit up.

Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, December 2015
Nick Walker, Anchor Road, Bristol, December 2015

8/10

59. Stokes Croft, the Carriageworks (1)

This building and its immediate neighbours are arguably the most painted walls in Bristol. Artwork is over-sprayed weekly or sometimes more frequently. You have to be quick if you want to photograph any of it, and some of it is really good.

Hoax, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015

I love this wonderful stencil. I am guessing it is a self-portrait of the artist, but I have no idea who that artist might be. I might have to do some digging around. From the comments below, it would appear to be a piece by Hoax. It is gone now (Jan 2016). Another addition, now in April 2016, I have just noticed a wonderful Face F1st next to the hoax stencil. I am a huge fan of Face F1st.

Hoax, Face F1st, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015
Hoax, Face F1st, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2015

8/10