Tag: Urban

1540. Upfest 2017 (173)

One of the more academic and mind-blowing pieces at Upfest 2017 was this absolutely stunning classical style piece by Mezla. I managed to catch up with him while he was painting this piece and he said that he was supposed to be using the boards down at Ashton Gate, but that he found the music just a little bit too loud for his liking, so he crossed over the road and found this wall.

Mezla, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mezla, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I absolutely love the way he has combined abstract work with some life form, and the subtle shades and colours are perfect. This really is one of my favourites from Upfest 2017 and is so very different from pretty much everything else on display.

Mezla, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Mezla, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

I don’t think I can praise this piece highly enough. His Upfest biography reveals how he started off as a writer but has moved on since.

1539. Upfest 2017 (172)

Well, well, well, the gifts just keep coming. Regular readers will know that I have only recently discovered the wonderful art of Pekoe and I have featured her work a couple of times in the last month. It turns out that while I was going through another batch of pictures from my Upfest 2017 archive, I found this piece by an ‘unknown’ artist who I now know is Pekoe. I love it when this kind of thing happens.

Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Her Upfest piece was definitely one that caught the eye and is rather more polished than some of her street work – it is a festival after all. She sticks with the female portrait formula that appears to be her preferred subject matter. I am reliably informed by Gary, the art blogger that this wea actually a collaboration piece with Mr Sleven and DNT.

Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Pekoe, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

Pekoe is a talented Bristol-based artist whose work I am just getting to grips with and I certainly want to see a whole load more. Looking forward to it. Worth a quick peek at her Linked-in page too.

1537. Dean Lane skate park (132)

One of the great joys of trawling through my archives is finding pieces that were never posted because the artist was unknown to me. Fast forward to the present day and I have since discovered the talent and feel like I know a little more. So it was with this old one from Tash Bee back in July 2017.

Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
Tasha Bee, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

I liked the piece enough to photograph it, but then it sat dormant in my archive until now. Liberation. It is signed with a large B, but I didn’t know that was her signature back then. This is another serene piece beautifully put together by an artist who is fast rising up the tables of my Bristol faves. Same about the evening sun and shadow.

1536. M32 Spot (20)

Right underneath the M32 in the middle of the DIY skate Park which is used by skaters in Bristol when it rains, is this unusual piece by an artist I’ve not come across before, KiKi. At least I think the signature is KiKi, and until I know any better that is what I shall call her/him. As you can see I haven’t been able to research the artist at all yet.

KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018
KiKi?, M32 Spot, Bristol, May 2018

I really love the piece, both the style of it and the subject matter. It looks like some kind of sea monster, although not too scary. What I especially like is how skilfully the artist has used the difficult space that the column affords. Stylistically the piece is also really interesting, almost seeming to have a native North American look to it (or maybe that is just me). Anyhow I am looking forward to seeing a lot more from this artist. Bravo.

1535. Dean Lane skate park (131)

This is an old one in Dean Lane skater park from Stupid Stupid Meathole, which I didn’t post at the time because I didn’t know who it was by.  He creates these potentially sinister monsters, but takes away any menace by adding something comical to them. His characters actually become rather sweet really – it must be those big eyes.

Stupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017
SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURESStupid Stupid Meathole, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2017

I do like his work. He chooses his colours well and I like then way he scribbles his shading, for example on the teeth of this monster, which give ther whole thing a sense of animation. I’m always on the look out for his work and I think I have some in my archives which I’ll try and dig out.

1534. Brunel Way bridge (8)

This piece is actually not really on Brunel Way, but is in the Cumberland Basin where the Brunel Way bridge/flyover begins. And who should pop up here but Pekoe, who until a couple of weeks ago was completely under my radar.

Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Pekoe, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

This piece, in doodle style, is actually really nicely presented and has a great balance of bright colours and squiggle elements to make up a fine portrait. I am new to her work, but I am enjoying what I see and look forward to finding more of her pieces in Bristol.

1533. Brunel Way bridge (7)

I love, love, love this collaboration piece by Face 1st and Tash Bee. Totally understated and beautifully sprayed on a concrete column under Brunel Way, this piece is tucked away and pretty much out of view. There is a serenity about the piece that works so very well, and the setting is just a perfect way to frame the piece.

Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Face 1st and Tasha Bee, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

I don’t know how long these two have been collaborating for, but there have been a spate of their joint pieces cropping up all over the place just recently. For me, this is the best yet. Their use of colour and form is similar, but each has a very distinctive look. The top section is by Face 1st and beneath it is a superb styalized portrait by Tash Bee. I have met neither of these artists, but it I keep looking, it is just a matter of time.

A happy find.

1532. River Avon

Regular readers will have seen an awful lot of this little fella in recent months and I make no apologies for that. Of all the bunnies that NEVERGIVEUP has painted around the city of Bristol I think that this one is my favourite to date.

NEVERGIVEUP, River Avon, Bristol, July 2018
NEVERGIVEUP, River Avon, Bristol, July 2018

It can be found on a random bit of brick wall, probably a derelict store room or something, on the footpath between Ashton Avenue Bridge and Brunel Way bridge alongsite the River Avon. I love it when Graffiti (a rather urban concept) blends in so perfectly with a rural setting. This is just brilliant.

1531. Stokes Croft

I have said many times before that I like artists from out of town coming to visit and leaving behind little gifts. I haven’t seen any new work from qWeRT in quite a while in Bristol, so it was great to stumble upon this one in Stokes croft last week.

qWeRT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2018
qWeRT, Stokes Croft, Bristol, June 2018

These cute wheatpastes feature a goggle-eyed character, in this instance assuming the shape of a broom with its fingers creating a heart shape. It is difficult not to like these paste ups. I only wish qWeRT would make the trip from London more often.

1530. Brunel Way bridge (6)

I took a recent walk down to the Cumberland Basin recently and came across this standalone piece from Epok, which is really rather good. It is less angular than his usual work with soft, almost cartoon-like curves.

Epok, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018
Epok, Brunel Way bridge, Bristol, June 2018

The wall is very busy with previous pieces on it, andf it all looks a bit fragmented. I think this piece would have benefitted from having a slightly larger backwash, especially to the right, but it is a tedious process. Nice gold and silver burner.