This was unquestionably one of the most memorable portraits of Upfest 2016. It is a face with a wonderful expression and crazy hair. The artist of this piece is Xemayo, about whom I know nothing and there wasn’t even a biography in the festival programme.
Xemayo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
From his Facebook page I can make out that he comes from Valencia in Spain and his full name is Xemayo Gonzalez Vidal.
Xemayo, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
It would appear from looking at his feed that much of his street artwork takes on the form of these large portraits, often pulling faces. I love this upfest piece.
I never posted this fabulous small piece until now, because I haven’t been able to identify the artist, and regular readers will know what a stickler I am for such things. However, sometimes it simply isn’t right not to share, and this piece is so good I have gone ahead.
Unknown artist, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
Of course if there is anyone out there who might know who the artist is, please let me know.
It is not until you get right up close that you see the fabulous work that has gone into this remarkable piece. There is a lot of detail and some interesting techniques that have gone into this work, and the overall effect is of the highest quality.
Unknown artist, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
I like this, a lot – it has something that ticks a lot of boxes for me.
What a lovely piece this is by Gage (Oliver Gillard), and actually what a hugely gifted artist he is. Gage is based in Bristol and runs his own business Gage Graphics, offering large mural commissions.
Gage Graphics, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
In this piece he has some floating 3D writing and a spray can (the tool of his trade) bursting with wildlife and colour. I can’t believe it has taken me so long to really appreciate this piece. I think it is because the images were stored in my archive upside down, and it is hard to appreciate and pick out upside down thumbnails. Lovely work.
It is strange how things come together sometimes. I have only a few days ago posted Hoshiko’s drowned out effort from Upfest 2017, and here I am posting his piece from the previous year. In both cases my photographs don’t really do his work justice – here I have him working but no final picture of the completed board and from 2017, he never actually finished the piece off. Perhaps it’ll be third time lucky if he comes to Upfest 2018.
Hoshiko, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
This piece is rather cheerful and light-hearted, with a little monster (utterly unscary) roaring. I think the stencil text at the bottom says ‘I’m a dinosaur’. Some similarities with the work of Miss Wah.
Rewinding a little bit back to Upfest 2016 and a series of five more pieces that never quite made it into the blog…because Upfest 2017 happened! This is a lovely piece that was on the hoardings in North Street. It took me a long time to find out who the artist is, but it turns out that it is Pronk-Stukken who also produced this piece at the same event.
Pronk Stukken, Upfest, Bristol, July 2016
This piece has a strong connection with Mother Earth or nature in my view, and there is a calm serenity in the face. Curiously, this was one of my favourite pieces from the 2106 festival and remains embedded in my memory.
A little trip down memory lane, this is a nice colourful quick one from Mr Draws down in The Bearpit. Always playing with the order and orientation of his letters, Mr Draws brings a bit of life and vibrancy to the spots he chooses.
Mr Draws, The Bearpit, Bristol, April 2017
I took this back in April and am posting it now, because it just feels like I haven’t done anything by him for ages. Mr Draws is definitely an artist who produces street work in pulses, and once he gets going he becomes extremely prolific.
Zase and Dekor are the masters of large high-impact walls in Bristol, and most of the pieces that they do, go up and stay up. In this particular case they have replaced a piece that they sprayed here a few years ago, because the wall needed to be re-rendered.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
The wall is a local landmark which has a vast audience because it is just off the M32 and outside a large retail park and the Eastville Tesco. Thousands of people will drive past it every day and I’m sure will be captivated by the unfolding story.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
The central theme of the piece revolves around some local wildlife, a squirrel, a robin, a fox, a hedgehog and a badger, set in a rather stark woodland. Hovering above is a fabulous 3D wildstyle ZASE, a feature common to all their collaborations.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
There is a wonderful touch in this work, a reference to the piece that existed here before – a lady riding on the back of a turtle with a colander on her head – she is in the bottle. On reflection, I wonder if it is not a lady, but a gentleman…I can’t be sure now.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
This is a mighty and detailed piece that sits so comfortably in this location – I am certain that it will remain here for many years cheering up shoppers and commuters and bringing a smile to their faces. Xase and Dekor doing Bristol proud.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Natural adventures 