Tag: The Bearpit

1426. The Bearpit (131)

Well this rather ‘charming’ installation appeared only a couple of weeks ago in The Bearpit, on the inner wall of the ‘Debenhams’ tunnel. It is of course by Will Coles, whose work often has the capacity to lampoon and also to offend. I don’t think there will be too many people offended by this particular piece.

Will Coles, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Will Coles, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

President Trumpety Dumpety throwing up the Stars and Stripes laced with warheads pretty much says all it needs to really. Another provocative piece by this interesting artist. Sadly, I visited The Bearpit a few days ago, and somebody had removed the piece in its entirety. May I recommedn stronger glue? Great stuff from Will Coles.

1425. The Bearpit (130)

This is a really terrible picture of a quickie from Decay on the left and trademark ‘SEISMIC’ from Jee See on the right. It is always geat to see work from both of these two artists, whose work is stylistically quite different. I am really enjoying these small character type pieced from Decay at the moment.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2018

This board in The Bearpit has since been prepped and replaced with new work sprayed during a paint jam on 14 April 2018 – more on this to follow.

1417. The Bearpit (129)

I recently found out, from reading an interview with John D’oh, that he tends to create these single layer political stencils for places like The Bearpit, where their lifespan may at times be only a day or two. His more complex multi-layered work is reserved for walls where longevity is more likely…an utterly understandable position.

John D'oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
John D’oh, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

This piece is highly critical of Theresa May and the growing problem of homelessness and rough sleeping that is plaguing towns and cities across the UK. I really like the work he does and the way he uses his art to express political ideas. Much of his artwork tends to encourage ‘embellishment’ from passers by, and this one is no exception. The ‘cock and balls’ motif being put to good use.

Keep it going John D’oh.

1413. The Bearpit (128)

I wasn’t too sure whether to feature this work from Unlucky 15th or not, mainly because up until now I have not been clear in my own mind whether this is a tag or graffiti art. Then I thought, does it really matter? This motif has been appearing around Bristol for a while now, and it is only recently that I found out whom it is by. It is highly distinctive and the artist keeps it consistent.

Unlucky15th, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2018
Unlucky15th, The Bearpit, Bristol, January 2018

I think what I would really like to see is some other ideas, to establish whether Unlucky 15th is a ‘one-trick-pony’ or a budding Bristol artist. There is a part of me that really likes this piece, and the overall message is a good one…I think there is another level to achieve though.

1393. The Bearpit (127)

Although I am confident this is a Tom Miller piece, with his trademark explosion of swirling colours, it is not signed, and so there is that tiny little nagging doubt about it. However, since nobody else in Bristol paints like this, I will attribute it to him anyway.

Tom Miller, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2108
Tom Miller, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2108

I’m not sure if it is still there or not, it has been a week or two since I did any street art hunting in Bristol, but most of his recent stuff has been tagged and oversprayed unnecessarily quickly, which is pretty annoying really.

Tom Miller, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2108
Tom Miller, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2108

In this piece, a motif he uses a lot, a heart, is surrounded by a chaos of colour. A nice piece.

 

 

1388. The Bearpit (126)

Going back just a little, I found this unusual collaboration between Decay and Dirtystreetart. QI know a lot about the former and have posted a lot of his work here, the latter though is new to me, and I am guessing that he was visiting Bristol.

Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017

I think this collaboration works really well, Decay adding some green to his usual red white and black abstract work fusing brilliantly with the photorealistic ant in the middle of the piece by Dirtystreetart.

Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017

I was pleased to get this shot of the piece, because it didn’t get to hang around for too long before getting sprayed over. I’m not sure if these two have collaborated before, but I think this works well, and I would certainly like to see more from the pair.

Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017
Decay and Dirtystreetart, The Bearpit, Bristol, November 2017

Having just checked out Dirtystreetart on the Interweb, it turns out he comes from Cheltenham, as does Decay, before he made his home in Bristol, which would go some way to explaining this collaboration.

 

1361. The Bearpit (126)

I haven’t posted anything by Cheba for what seems a very long while, although I do know of one or two pieces he has created recently of which this is one. It would seem that he likes this particular spot which he has sprayed in the past.

Cheba, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018
Cheba, The Bearpit, Bristol, February 2018

Cheba is the master of cosmic murals, it is his thing and he does it so very well. It is possible to immerse yourself entirely in this piece, looking at the stars and clouds in this imaginary scene. While it might not be to everyone’s taste, this is beautifully sprayed and brings something of outer space into the centre of a busy city.

 

1349. The Bearpit (125)

This is the second stunning piece from Oze Arv that was painted in The Bearpit after Upfest 2017 and is at the end of the tunnel opposite his other piece there (see previous post).

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

Seeing both of these beautiful works by this talented artist was a real treat, and something quite special for The Bearpit, which at times can look a bit tatty and drab. In this piece Oze Arv once again combines his wildlife study with an abstract context – all very seductive and compelling.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

For me this really is a great example of free art (of a very high standard) for the people of Bristol. Oze Arv selflessly painting two superb works, probably because he just loves to spray, and leaving a legacy of uplifting optimism. Free art for the people – it doesn’t get much better than that.

1348. The Bearpit (124)

This is the first of two posts on work by Oze Arv in The Bearpit which were very precious gifts that he made while he was in town for Upfest 2017. Since seeing his work for the first at the festival I have become a big fan.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

There is something about the connection with nature and the wonderful colours he uses that makes this work engaging and uplifting, let alone his exquisite skill in combining abstract patterns with wildlife subjects.

Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Oze Arv, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

This piece didn’t last long and the ephemeral nature of it makes the gift seem so much more special. I am pleased that I was able to capture it and even more pleased that I am able to share it now.

 

1344. The Bearpit (123)

Once again I have been doing a little bit of cleaning up of my archives, and I came across this rather unusual Kid Crayon piece from Kid Crayon last July. I am finding that Bristol art from July is often under-represented in my posts, because they get hijacked by Upfest and will remain unshared and unloved in my July folder.

Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017
Kid Crayon, The Bearpit, Bristol, July 2017

This piece reminds me very much of the wheatpastes he used to do and which I used to take great pleasure in hunting down when I first became interested in all this malarkey. A classic Kid Crayon work.