In recent weeks, Corupt has been painting loads of pieces, concentrating his efforts on the M32 roundabout, and this STICK piece is an absolute belter from the very highly regarded Hungarian graffiti writer.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, August 2025
This beauty showcases Corupt’s class and skill in equal measure. The letters are superbly designed and the proportions work so well. It is the fills which I find most captivating, especially the translucent effect where the letter ‘T’ crosses over the letter ‘I’. BS3 is a postcode reference (which is actually in the Bedminster area of south Bristol). Rounding off the piece is Corupt’s trademark border, which has about an inch of separation from the letters and drop shadows, framing the writing uniquely.
This is simply a really classy piece from Corupt (who writes the letters ‘Corupt’ or ‘Stick’ mostly) on a wall/skate ramp, tucked away at the southern end of the Brunel Way spot.
Corupt, Brunel Way, Bristol, May 2025
The piece is good in every respect. The colour selections work beautifully, The quirky letters fill the space of the ramp perfectly, and the overall finishing is tight as a nut. Corupt has been turning out some outstanding pieces recently and i very highly regarded in his homeland of Hungary, so I am told.
This bold piece by Corupt is in the darkest part of the St Werburghs tunnel, and I had to do a little bit of brightness and colour manipulation to bring out the best in these photographs. The tunnel is a great street art/graffiti spot, especially in wet weather, but the light conditions can make photography very challenging at times.
Corupt, St Werburghs, Bristol, April 2025
This is a really beautifully presented Chrome piece, spelling out STICK, set on a pink background, with a fine red line outside the thicker black border, a design element that is a bit of a signature of the artist’s work. There is something rather unusual and appealing about his letter style. Great piece if you can actually see it in the gloom.
I prepared today’s posts yesterday, because I am (at the time of scheduled publication) on my way to Cornwall for a few days away with a fine friend who I have been fishing with every year for more than 35 years. My posts may become a little erratic over the next few days, but with the earlier dark evenings I should have a little time to write them.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2024
I really don’t get to post enough work by Corupt, so it feels good when I do get round to it. This is a lovely piece spelling STICK, but this time he has taken a homonym approach and replaced the ‘I’ with a ‘Y’. The letters are blocky and rigid and beautifully filled with colourful spots, stripes and drips. The whole thing is bordered with a thick black line and then reinforced with a red outline a couple of inched further out, framing the piece nicely. It is always great to see Corupt’s work, and to chat when I bump into him, which seems to be quite frequently these days.
This is the last archive round up for the time being, and a few wonderful pieces of graffiti writing that missed the boat back in March 2020, just around the time of the first Covid lockdown in England – what strange times those were. First up is this fabulous STICK piece by Corupt, complete with ‘panels’ and ‘rivets’.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2020
Another piece by the same artist, this time using his KORUPT letters. In this chrome lettering, there is more than immediately meets the eye, with some patterning in the fills, with two very subtle colour variants. Nicely done.
Trafficity, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2020
It is always great to find Trafficity pieces, but to find an unpublished picture in my archive is extra rewarding. The letters ZIOM are filled with chrome, but unlike Corupt’s piece above, the patterning in this one is created by the piece beneath coming through (I think). Unusually, Trafficity has gone with a single tone, when I am more accustomed to seeing two or three horizontal colours through the piece.
Rusk, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2020
It is very unlike me not to post Rusk pieces as and when I find them, so this one from the archive is a rare gem. Great graded fill, nice orange border and green drop shadow… what’s not to like?
Phour, M32 roundabout, Bristol, March 2020
Rounding off this selection of ‘lost’ pieces from March 2020 is this bright and cheerful piece by Phour, whose writing is consistently neat and tidy. He has gone with some interesting colour choices in the fill, which work really well and feel quite joyful.
That’s it from the archive for a while. Back to normal with my next post.
Corupt is another of the Bristol stalwarts, whose work is consistently on-point and pleasing to the eye. This vibrant yellow piece spelling out STICK (one of two monikers the artist uses) is painted on one of the smaller ramps in the Dean Lane skate park.
Corupt, Dean Lane, Bristol, June 2023
What I particularly like about this piece is that when I photographed it, it was still quite fresh. Skate park ramp artwork usually deteriorates reasonably quickly for obvious reasons, and it is unusual to find pieces in good condition. There is nothing flashy or pretentious about this piece, and yet it still packs a punch and makes an impression.
I was lucky with my timing when I found this piece. The paint was still wet, and there was a lovely smell of spray paint hanging in the air. It is always good to capture fresh work in skate parks, because the wear and tear from skaters kicks in very quickly.
Corupt, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2023
It just so happens that Corupt was sitting on the other side of the wall, watching Stivs, with Mozzarella, painting another wall. I stopped for a nice chat with both of them. As always with Corupt, this piece is perfectly finished, with very clean lines and fills. It seems that he prefers to write STICK rather than CORUPT these days, which works equally well. So much about photographing and chronicling street/graffiti art is about timing, and I got it just right on this particular day.
More writing on the roundabout, this time from Corupt. Over the last month or so, I have come across far more graffiti writing pieces than street art or character pieces, and that will necessarily be reflected in my posts. I usually try to get a fairly even balance of different artwork, but it can be a struggle sometimes.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, January 2023
Corupt, writing his STICK letters, has chosen a rather low-key colour palette for this piece, and it doesn’t quite hump off the wall as much as some of his other pieces, but the handiwork is just as expert. The letters pull out from the wall, thanks to the grey vertical 3D drop shadow. The letters themselves are notable for the colour transitions and decorations in which there is an organised pattern, but unless you look for it, the whole thing looks a bit random. Another fine piece from the Hungarian artist.
As with so many regular writers in Bristol, Corupt continues to delight us with his STICK or CORUPT writing, and this one on the M32 is a stunner. With deep 3D drop shadows that assist with lifting the piece, the letters are presented in two halves of different colour schemes.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, October 2022
Although the division of the two halves isn’t a straight line, the top and bottom have quite different colours, but similar patterns and details. This is a bold statement piece and carries with it the gravitas of a very talented graffiti writer.
I think that over the time that I have been photographing street art in Bristol, there are two kings of the M32 roundabout, Face 1st and Corupt, and both feature in today’s posts. This is a fine recent piece by Corupt on the north east wall of the roundabout.
Corupt, M32 roundabout, Bristol, September 2022
This is a striking and commanding piece from Corupt spelling Stick, set on a sumptuous red background. This is a tight piece from the artist, where every element is beautifully done and the whole thing comes together exceptionally well. I fully expect this one to be here for a while.