Tag: Street art

2060. Dean Lane skate park (197)

When these two get together, it is always a recipe for something interesting, rarely missing the mark. Sled One and Smak have collaborated on this wall before at least once and possibly many times, but this is an absolute peach.

Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Sled One, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

The two have used a McDonald’s theme for this collaboration, using the corporate colours of the food giant. I confess that I find it a slightly curious brand to celebrate, but that is my snobby bias coming into play, which I am not particularly proud of. Sled One has incorporated some fries and bubbling cheese into his writing which is utterly sharp and brilliant.

Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Smak, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

Smak takes the fun a little further with a little slogan ‘the big Smak and cheese’… very droll. Again, this is a supreme piece of writing, so sharp and clean. A great coming together of ASK and RAW. I rather like the bicycle, which I had to keep moving out of the way, but it kind of goes well with the yellow of the piece. So good.

2059. St Werburghs tunnel (64)

There is no question about it, Soap seems to have found a new lease of life and appears to be a happy artist. His recent pieces have been an expansion of his basic form and have a sense of joy about them. This one in St Werburghs tunnel is a real beauty.

Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Soap, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

As well as adding a body to the cheerful mouths, Soap has also adorned the character with hair, cleverly crafted from multi coloured tags – the white one on the left shows clearly what it looks like. He has incorporated further white motifs in the ‘hair’ which look good too. His work is really coming to life and building in sophistication and I really like it. I think other observers are similarly enjoying this journey. Keep it going.

2058. Dean Lane skate park (196)

Recently Face 1st has been teaming up with an artist I have not been aware of before who likes to paint elephants, Junk. I don’t yet know much about the artist, but I like his simple style which goes so well with a very similar style used by Face 1st.

Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Face 1st, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

I have actually posted a collaboration by these two before fairly recently, but thought that the whole thing was by Face 1st and that he had branched out into doing elephants…he corrected me via Instagram.

Junk, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019
Junk, Dean Lane, Bristol, February 2019

I hope to see more of this pairing…there is something rather calming and meditative about this collaboration… maybe it is an elephant thing.

Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019
Face 1st, M32 roundsbout, Bristol, January 2019

2057. Lawrence Hill roundabout (4)

I haven’t seen too much of Nevla’s work lately, so it was great to come across a whole pile of pieces in the tunnels of the Lawrence Hill roundabout a couple of weeks back. This is a rather cute (a word I rarely use) piece of a character spraying the name Nevla book-ended by a couple of bears.

Nevla, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019
Nevla, Lawrence Hill, Bristol, February 2019

I have a feeling that the tunnels on this roundabout will become more of a playground for street/graffiti artists over the summer. It is interesting to observe the shifting sands of street art spots, especially as so many great walls in Stokes Croft have disappeared (gentrification).

2056. St Werburghs tunnel (63)

Zake is an artist who is really coming out of the shadows and making a bit of a name for himself. I first became aware of him last Summer but I don’t know if that was because he was reasonably new to the Bristol scene or whether I just hadn’t spotted any of his work before.

Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019
Zake, St Werburghs, Bristol, February 2019

This piece is a little bit different and has some similarities with artwork by Laic217…which can only be a good thing. A skull leaving its host through the mouth is surely an odd concept, but one which allows Zake to experiment beyond his faces. Skulls are difficult to get right, but this is not too bad at all. I love it that Zake is more mobile and seems to have teamed up with some of the PWA artists and friends. A lovely surprise piece in the tunnel.

2055. Norfolk Place (4)

There is something about Cheo’s work that oozes class. I think it stems from his great compositions and characters, but most of all his incredibly clean lines. The whole thing looks like it has been painted with fat felt tips rather than spray cans.

Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017
Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017

I love the smoking cat character with his gold chain in the centre of the piece, and I’m not too sure what the white creature on the left is, but he is clearly animated about something.

Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017
Cheo, Norfolk Place, Bristol, April 2017

I struggle to read Cheo’s writing, mainly because he doesn’t simply write ‘CHEO’  which would of course make things much easier. Crazy that I’ve only just posted this one.

2054. M32 roundabout J3 (128)

Another one that slipped through the net is this melting face piece by Laic217 from a time when he was experimenting with these kinds of facial distortions and disfigurements, back in February 2017.

Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017
Laic217, M32 roundabout, Bristol, February 2017

Although it is only a small piece, sandwiched between two bits of graffiti writing, it demands to be looked at, and why not…this is the kind of piece that typifies the work of this Polish adopted son of Bristol. Melting face, bucket hat, smilie face smoking… all trademarks used by Laic217. Another fine piece.

2053. The Bearpit (177)

With the incredible weather we have had recently in Bristol, there has been a massive turnover of street art, so what the hell am I doing delving through my archive pictures rather than posting current street/graffiti art? I think that it tends to happen when I am looking for something specific and then stumble upon things that I have squirreled away. Anyhow, I saw this and just had to post it. It is a winter piece (obviously from the subject) by John D’oh.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2017

The stencil depicts the snowman from Disney’s Frozen, and makes a pun on the name with one of the characters (Olaf = a laugh), but then draws in the incredibly serious matter of climate change. This is a skillful way of blending art, humour and the biggest issue of our time in a typically John D’oh way. I love this piece and am happy that I have now at last liberated it.

2052. Upfest 2016 (170)

Rounding off this batch of ten Upfest 2016 pieces is this powerful piece by Bram. Depicting  a person standing behind a glass barrier, the piece makes a bold statement about refusing refuge, which in 2016 was a huge issue across Europe.

Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Although the piece on first inspection might seem a little simple, it is in fact beautifully composed and executed, with fine detail on the hands pressed up to the screen, but a murky figure behind the hands is obscured. It is a moving piece and a classic case of less is more, as you try to fill the gaps of the story for yourself.

Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Bram, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

I know nothing of the artist and have struggled to find out anything from the Interweb.

2051. Upfest 2016 (169)

During Upfest 2016, a few of these beautiful glazed face masks by Gesta Future were placed around North Street and in town too, although from recollection none of them lasted too long before being hacked off, which is unfortunate if not a little predictable.

Gesta Future, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Gesta Future, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016

Gesta Future is an Italian artist who seems to be equally comfortable producing ceramics as he does using spray cans freestyle or with stencils. A versatile artist with great creative ideas. These masks are the only pieces of his that I have seen, but if I go to Italy any time soon, I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

Gesta Future, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Gesta Future, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016