Tag: Stokes Croft

4315. Stokes Croft

Although I struggle to keep on top of the sheer volume of amazing street art and graffiti that appears in Bristol every day, I always make space on Natural Adventures for Pekoe. She is one of a handful of artists whose work I will try my hardest to post whenever I photograph it. Another example would be Laic217. There is something about Pekoe’s portraits that I find compelling and unique and feel the need to share.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, March 2022

This piece has been here fort a little while, but I only recently got round to photographing it. Before this piece there was another of her pieces, but this one is a real beauty. Fabulous colours and a half body portrait, rather than just a head. The piece overlooks the summer seating area of a café and is immediately below the recently refreshed Stinkfish piece in Stokes Croft. Very nice work indeed.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018

4171. Stokes Croft

This magnificent piece, by Stinkfish, is arguably the most iconic piece of street art in Bristol. This is the second appearance of this mural in Natural Adventures, but a totally legitimate one. The original was painted by Stinkfish some years ago, and at the back end of last year the artist was brought back to the city to refresh this and another of his fine works in Mina Road, St Werburghs.

Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2021
Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, December 2021

The result of this refresh is absolutely stunning, bringing the old piece back to life and restoring a sense of pride in this extraordinary wall. Some may feel that restoring a piece goes a bit against the grain of the lifecycle of street art, but I am not amongst them. In this piece not only has Stinkfish refreshed the black and yellow elements, but he has embellished the piece with his trademark patterns that add so much more to the whole.

Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015
Stinkfish, Stokes Croft, Bristol, September 2015

For comparison I include a picture of the piece from my original post, and even then the piece wasn’t particularly new. It is wonderful to see new life breathed into the old girl.

4029. Stokes Croft

This outstanding Frankenstein’s monster piece is definitely a Halloween contribution from Kosc, an artist on fire at the moment. Look at how the piece stands out and demands to be looked at against the dreary backdrop of hoardings and buffed wall outside the Blue Mountain.

Kosc, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2021
Kosc, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2021

This series of greyscale pieces set on an orange background is becoming a bit of a strong theme in Kosc’s portfolio, and a thoroughly enjoyable one at that. There is great use of tone in this piece, providing depth and facial contours that lift the features on the monster’s face so well.

Kosc, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2021
Kosc, Stokes Croft, Bristol, October 2021

I first came across this artist’s work in Moon Street, which runs parallel with Stokes Croft at the back of Blue Mountain, and it would seem that this is a spot favoured by Kosc. This is good news indeed, because few artists seem to bother with the area these days, compared to a few years ago. Great stuff, and enjoy a spooky evening.

3622. Stokes Croft

I drove past this about a week ago and pulled in to photograph it. The Merny (Morny) piece had slipped under the radar a bit, and I’m not too sure how long it had been there. No matter though as I am always delighted to see something new from him.

Morny, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2021
Morny, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2021

This one, along with many of his pieces, is a political piece that is critical of our current administration. Simply put ‘what a sad state of affairs’ more than adequately  presents the utter mess out country is in, not just in its appalling initial response to Covid-19 but also in its disregard for moral decision-making and corruption at the highest levels of government.  The Conservative way seems to be that as long as it makes money it makes sense, no appreciation of the consequences.

The ordinary man, maybe a cyclist or runner, is sitting to contemplate this mess. A wonderful human piece from one of my favourite Bristol artists.

2966. Stokes Croft

This piece from Decay was painted around the time of the introduction of lock down and was a great message for people to take the lock down restrictions seriously. Street artists have definitely played their party in broadcasting good messages during this pandemic. More recently some works are a little more critical of the government’s handling of the situation, but no surprises there.

Decay, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2020
Decay, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2020

Decay is such a consistent artist always putting out clean and tidy writing beautifully executed. There is one thing that perplexes me about this piece, and it is the eyes with wings bookending the writing. Are these the work of Decay or another artist? I think it is Decay, but it isn’t quite in his style. Answers on a postcard…

2949. Stokes Croft

Following on from Yesterday’s rare unearthed Laic217 piece is this equally rare Kid Crayon piece from my archive. I usually post Kid Crayon’s work pretty shortly after I have photographed it because I like it and am keen to share it. This Star Wars piece was painted on the side of the Matchbox Gallery at a time when it had an exhibition of Star Wars work, probably coinciding with May the fourth, 2017. (May the fourth be with you)

Kid Crayon, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2017
Kid Crayon, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2017

Although not wholly looking like Carrie Fisher, we all know exactly who this character is and that is what matters. The double-bun hairstyle is possibly one of the most iconic ever. It is unusual to see a piece like this from Kid Crayon, which makes it all the more special. I’m not sure who painted the R2D2, but have a feeling it might have been DNT.

No… I am your father.

2914. Stokes Croft

Another archive piece, this time from #DFTE, on the famous wall on the corner of Stokes Croft and City Road. This is one of #DFTE’s framed pieces, and if I am honest, I’m not entirely certain that it is still there.

#DFTE, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2019
#DFTE, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2019

The words ‘We are all in this together‘ have a certain poignancy about them today as we sit in the midst of a global pandemic. I like the sentiment, but I dislike the way our government have rolled out this slogan (as if it was their invention) to try and inject some patriotism and collective responsibility for the fallout of coronavirus. I feel a monumental rant cominng on, so I will end the post now before I bore the living daylights out of you. In cheerier times I would appreciate the words more. I am a big fan of the artist and his alternative style.

2896. Hepburn Road (15)

Tucked away in a lane not usually associated with Kid Crayon was this rather unusual two-tone piece from July 2017. One of the things that I would often associate with Kid Crayon is his abundant use of colour, so this was something of a change.

Kid Crayon, Hepburn Road, Bristol, July 2017
Kid Crayon, Hepburn Road, Bristol, July 2017

My guess is that this was a quick one that was more for his own amusement than for public display. I love finding works like this, because they show another side of an artist and the range and diversity of their work. Without the signature, this would be quite difficult to identify as a KC piece. I’m not sure what the speech bubble says, but it looks like ‘wired’ to me. Does it refer to KC himself or to the character of the piece?

2870. Stokes Croft

This piece, in the heart of Stokes Croft came as a complete surprise to me on one of my Covid-19 dog walks last week. It is by the wonderful Pekoe and painted over one of her previous pieces here, and from that I can guess that this is one of her favoured spots.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2020
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, April 2020

There is always a lot of emotion in Pekoe’s pieces, sometimes happy, often sad, but this one look different particularly downcast. Maybe the sadness is reflective of the Coronavirus pandemic and all the baggage that comes with it.

All the trademarks are here, a colourful face, big hair in multi-colours with lots of symbols in it and a tear. Another fine piece from Pekoe.

Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018
Pekoe, Stokes Croft, Bristol, January 2018

2864. Stokes Croft

I thought I had posted all my pictures of French artist Tian’s wheatpastes in Bristol from a visit he made in May last year, but I was mistaken, and the opportunity that Covid-19 has given me to ‘look back’ has unearthed a whole bunch more of which this is one.

Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019
Tian, Stokes Croft, Bristol, May 2019

I love Tian’s work and that he has twice visited Brisol in recent years and left us these wonderful pasteups is a real privilege. I’m not sure who the sepia-tinted woman featured is, it might be Jane Fonda? Or possibly it isn’t anyone famous. No matter, it is beautiful in my eyes. More to come, and possibly a gallery soon.