Tag: Urban

1326. Prince’s Place (3)

My absolute favourite piece of the year so far. This is an outstanding collaboration between two of the Bristol ASK masters, Sepr and 3Dom. As well as the composition, which is brilliant, the location is also cleverly chosen.

Sepr and 3Dom, Princes' Place, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018

This wall was home to a 3Dom piece of writing that had remained here for a long time, completely untouched. I do hope that this piece is offered the same level of respect. On the left is a snorkeler in blue, with gold trunks and a starfish on his head expertly sprayed by Sepr.

Sepr and 3Dom, Princes' Place, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018

If this isn’t weird enough, 3Dom has painted the most incredible jelly fish in rich and vibrant tones wearing a WW2 sea mine on its bell and with a chain trailing behind in its tentacles. A thing of quirkiness and real beauty.

Sepr and 3Dom, Princes' Place, Bristol, February 2018
Sepr and 3Dom, Princes’ Place, Bristol, February 2018

The whole thing comes together magnificently, the contrasting colour palettes of each artist marking their work but combining in the centre of the piece. So sharp and fresh, this is a really high quality piece. being in quite a narrow lane, it is quite difficult to capture in a phiotograph, but it is a real beauty.

3Dom, Princes Place, Bristol, February 2016
3Dom, Princes Place, Bristol, February 2016

1324. Upfest 2017 (134)

This is a small section of a larger wall which was sprayed by the Lost Souls crew for Upfest 2017. The concept for this wall was for each of the artists to produce a kind of playing card with a character piece on it. Here we have a pairing of SPZero76 and Squirl.

SPZero76, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
SPZero76, Upfest, Bristol, July2017

SPZero76 has created an incredible skeleton figure, rather disturbingly holding a whole bunch of lollies and sweets. It would seem that he enjoys using these blues and purples in his work, as I have seen them in many many of his pieces.

Squirl, Upfest, Bristol, July2017
Squirl, Upfest, Bristol, July2017

The Squirl piece is also a skeleton but of something altogether different…a horse maybe or perhaps a dog (see the flying bones) but the dentition is all wrong. What is it with street artists and death? The horse/dog is interacting with the female skeleton, maybe he wants the sweets.

Both of these pieces combine well and are technically beautifully sprayed. More from the Lost Souls to come.

1323. Upfest 2017 (133)

Sophie Long is an established artist in Bristol whose wildlife pieces with stunning drips are well known to those who look out for such things. I recently posted her fabulous shark piece in Cheltenham road which I walk past pretty much every day.

Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
Sophie Long, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This upright orangutan is rather beautiful and conveys so well the sombre disposition of these incredible creatures. we are reminded of our evolutionary closeness to them and our utter disregard for their environment. Orangutans have become an emblem of despair, but also of hope for the future. This fine piece would sit comfortably on any naturalists wall.

1322. Upfest 2017 (132)

At last year’s Upfest, 23 Magpies had a board all to herself, rather than her usual wheatpastes dotted around the place on utility boxes and lamp posts. I am a big fan of her work and am the proud owner of one of her small creations.

23Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017
23Magpies, Upfest, Bristol, July 2017

This work at Upfest is a clever piece of artwork purporting to be a National Geographic cover. A nice political message up front and lovely illustration, which chimes very much with the National Geographic house style. Packing a punch and an evocative image.

1319. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (2)

When I first saw this piece, I thought I had found another Gregos mask, but I was wrong. It is a piece by Urban Solid, a street art duo from Italy. To see more of their work, take a read of this great blog by London Calling.

Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Urban Solid, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

Unfortunately, I looks like the piece has been damaged, there is meant to be something in the mouth of the face, but it has been snapped off. I am a fan of this kind of 3D installation art that challenges the viewer with humour and sometimes political rhetoric. All part of the broad spectrum.

1318. Castlehaven Road, Camden Town (1)

My not-so-recent trip to Camden Town took me back to some places that I had been to on previous visits. This was a particular joy to behold. Always, seeing Dzia pieces is thrilling but to see one so perfectly worked into a wall with an existing piece is just perfect.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

I first saw this wall, with only the Dotmaster piece in September 2016, but the additional character that the Dzia pigeon has given it works so well. I love the clever touch of the pigeon’s heart, as if it is saying I love this piece.

Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017
Dzia, Castlehaven Road, Camden Town, November 2017

One just has to marvel at the way the lines and shapes that Dzia draws, which on their own don’t make any sense, come together to create such astonishingly lifelike creatures that appear to be animated. Such clever work from this exceptional Belgian artist.

1317. Charlotte Street (2)

The incredible Alex Lucas is pretty well known across Bristol, if not by name then by recognition of her artwork. She seems to have her work all over the place and her commissions definitely brighten up the city.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

From shop fronts to indoor murals, barely a day goes by when Bristolians aren’t touched in some way by her work. This is a case in point, the Bluebird Tea Company half way up Park Street.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

This isn’t some corporate makeover, but rather a beautifully bespoke design for a particular kind of outlet. It is a one-off, and a glance at the detail in the piece demonstrates this.

Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017
Alex Lucas, Charlotte Street, Bristol, November 2017

Is this street art? some may ask. In my view, absolutely it is. Just because it is paid-for work doesn’t make it any less legitimate. It isn’t edgy or covert, but it is representative of one end of the huge spectrum of public street/graffiti art available to all in Bristol.

1316. New Gatton Road (2)

The tree in front of this magnificent Sepr piece is always going to make photographing it difficult. A winter shot on a clear day is probably the best you are going to get, but ebven then a shadow of the tree is cast across the mural.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

I took several pictures of this piece shortly after it had been started, but they were polluted by the light conditions. I am not entirely sure what this is all about other than it is yet another brilliant monkey in space suit piece. Not far from this spot there is a Zase and Dekor monkey in a space suit, and every Upfest seems to throw up one or two. It is an endearing theme, and one so excellently executed here by Sepr.

Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017
Sepr, New Gatton Street, Brisotl, November 2017

This is a deceptively large piece on a fairly irregular wall, and how well Sepr has used the space to tell a humerous story. The monkey is immediately adjacent to the beautiful turtle by Louis Masai, and there we have street art…two classics, one earnest and worthy, the other full of fun…both supreme.

 

1315. Leonard Lane (15)

Who doesn’t love Salvador Dali and especially a greyscale multi-layer stencil tucked away in a dark alleyway by John D’oh? OK, so a kind of rhetorical question designed to answer itself. This is a brilliant piece of work. A stencil artist, a surrealist and a cat…it doesn’t get much better.

John D'oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017
John D’oh, Leonard Lane, Bristol, November 2017

In my view, John D’oh is a highly talented, prolific and perhaps slightly overlooked artist on the local scene. His pieces, small and large, simple and complex are almost taken for granted, but each is a little gem. It is so utterly worth stopping to look at and admire his work if you get a chance. I doff my cap in his general direction…wherever he is.

1314. M32 roundabout J3 (67)

I am not entirely certain, but I think this piece is by Hemper. For sure the writing spells HEMP, but it is possiblt this is a drug reference and nothing at all to do with Hemper. Whoever it is by, it is a nice bit of chrome writing set on a green and purple wall for a background.

Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017
Hemper, M32 roundabout, Bristol, December 2017

Walls seem to feature a lot in street art. I suppose that along with spray cans, walls are one half of the tools of the trade. This is a nice piece that seems to have stood the test of time in a location that normally has a high turnover. Finally, who can’t agree with the statement ‘homes for all’?