1307. Shoreditch, London (1)

I went to stay with my sister in London for a night a little while ago, and before getting on the train at Paddington to come home to Bristol, I took a bit of a diversion to Shoreditch. It was on this street art hunting expedition that I dropped and broke my camera, which was incredibly annoying. All good now though as I was covered on our insurance policy and I have a new, slightly better, camera.

Thierry Noir, Shoreditch, London, February 2018
Thierry Noir, Shoreditch, London, February 2018

One of the first pieces I saw (before broken camera) was this wonderful musical character by Thierry Noir. I love the apparent simplicity of his work and the bold colours he uses which add character to the locations he paints. I always think there are elements of a fusion of Picasso and Matisse in his work, but that might just be me. I do like this piece a lot…pity about the car parked right in front of it though!

607. Rivington Street, Shoreditch (5)

Just to mix things up a bit, I am going to write a few posts about some street art I photographed last Summer/Autumn when I was working two days a week in London. I thought I’d start with this rather eye-catching piece from Thierry Noir at the East end of Rivington Street in the archway by Cargo.

Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, Shoreditch, August 2016

Thierry Noir’s pieces are simple and colourful, almost falling into the category of ‘well I could probably do that’ art. Well I probably couldn’t and the idea and style are his and he executes them brilliantly. The more of his work that I see, the more I like it.

528. Rivington Street, Shoreditch, London (2)

A rather lovely simple piece on the front of Franco’s Takeaway on Rivington Street by the magnificent French street artist Thierry Noir. In this work, there are several of Thierry’s figures in bright colours looking as though they are in a queue for the takeaway shop. Intentional I’m sure.

Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, London, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Rivington Street, London, August 2016
I took this picture earlier on in the year when I had just begun a stint working in London two days a week. What a pleasure it was to be able to wander the streets of Shoreditch in the early evening discovering such delights. There is so much more to show you.

500. Raleigh Road (3)

Opposite the Tobacco Factory car park, you (used to) come face to face with this building and a wonderful Thierry Noir pair. When I took the photographs, I hadn’t seen any of his work before, but on my escapades to London I have become more familiar with his very distinctive work.

Thierry Noir, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2016
Thierry Noir, Raleigh Road, Bristol, June 2016

These pieces were sprayed for Upfest 2015 and have since been over painted with a large Brexit commentary piece which was part of Upfest 2016 – I will post this newer piece soon.

Thierry Noir reminds me a lot of artists like Matisse, or the Stravinsky fountains outside the Pompidou centre in Paris, whose work contained bold and contrasting colours on simple figures and forms. Great stuff.

450. Cowper Street, Shoreditch, London (1)

When I first started my two days a week working in London this Summer, I stayed in a hotel on City Road and ventured out towards Shoreditch without really knowing what I would find. One of the first encounters with street art I had was this bold signature piece by Thierry Noir.

Thierry Noir, Cowper Street, London, August 2016
Thierry Noir, Cowper Street, London, August 2016

Thierry Noir is a significant French street artist and has a Wikipedia page just to emphasise the fact. He claims to have been the first street artist to paint the Berlin Wall…more in the link. I love his simple style and bold colours. He hardly needs to sign his works, but this one said to me ‘welcome to Shoreditch’.