144. Chapter Street

I took a long walk home after a very tricky meeting yesterday, and cheered myself up with taking a new route through St Pauls. My reward was this superb mural by Silent Hobo.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

This area of St Pauls really is Silent Hobo’s heartland, and barely a street goes by without one of his pieces brightening up a wall or shop front.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

This work, I think, is my favourite. Not only is it beautifully executed, but the subject material is a fabulous reflection of what Bristol is all about. Some artists portray Bristol with architectural landmarks; Silent Hobo tends to present Bristol through cultural references.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

For the more observant among you, there is also a beautiful tribute to Mibsy.

Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016
Silent Hobo, Chapter Street, Bristol, March 2016

8/10

143. Leonard Lane (7)

Inspired by Frankie Beane’s recent post featuring ATM I thought I would share some wildlife street art by the artist in the wonderful Leonard Lane. This thin lane that follows the boundary of the old city wall is festooned with natural history street art instigated by a project called ‘Human Nature‘. Some 18 artists including ATM and Stewy took part, and I have posted several works already in this blog.

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

My challenge was to demonstrate that ATM, although a specialist in painting birds, has also painted some stunning creatures, including this moth and beetle.

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

I stroll down Leonard Lane about once a week, hoping to see something new. Some of the works have been tagged and are getting a little ragged…maybe time for a revamp?

ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015
ATM, Leonard Lane, Bristol, August 2015

8/10

142. Brookfield Avenue

In a sleepy side street just off the Gloucester Road by the Bristol Flyer pub is one of the most wonderful and colourful collaborations in Bristol. This triptych embraces the distinct styles of three local artists. Epok, 3Dom and Voyder.

Epok, Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016
Epok, Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016

Epok is renowned for his futuristic wildstyle burners. 3Dom introduces fantastical characters to his works and livens up walls all over this part of the City. Voyder is usually associated with faces as centre pieces surrounded by other works. In this instance though it would appear that the artist has also opted for a wildstyle burner.

3Dom,Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016
3Dom, Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016

The whole wall looks like it has been set on its side and would appear to have a continuous thread from left to right (or bottom to top). The clouds are on their sides in 3Dom’s and Voyder’s pieces. I have tried looking at it sideways, but am none the wiser about what it all means…not that it matters really. I love this wall and visit it quite regularly, just to look.

Voyder, Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016
Voyder, Brookfield Avenue, Bristol, February 2016

8.5/10

140. The Bearpit (4)

An unusual post this time. Several new pieces have appeared in the tunnels at The Bearpit over the last few weeks all of them signed ‘Decay’. They have been joined by a burner on the practice wall in Ashley Road in Stokes Croft.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

These wonderful abstract street art works are eye catching and refreshingly different.

Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, The Bearpit, Bristol, March 2016

So far my attempts to find out more about ‘Decay’ have been fruitless, but if I do find out any more I will post it here as an update.

Decay, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016
Decay, Ashley Road, Bristol, March 2016

‘Decay’ has certainly been busy, and I look forward to seeing more pieces around Bristol.

 

139. Moon Street (7)

This must be one of the most rapidly changing walls in Stokes Croft at the moment. It seems each time something goes up, it gets painted over and then not long after, replaced. It is not long ago that I featured the wall in this blog.

Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

This is a wonderful new addition by Mau Mau, which he posted on Twitter on February 19 this year. Featuring his signature fox, it is witty and slightly edgy. Much of Mau Mau’s work contains social comment and I think that this is no different.

Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016
Mau Mau, Moon Street, Bristol, March 2016

I have only encountered two of his pieces so far, the first being a wonderful political collaboration with Rowdy. I love this piece, and hope it has a longer stay of execution than some of the previous works here.

7.5/10

138. North Street, Workout (1)

ATM is something of a bird specialist, although I featured his wonderful bee near the entrance of @Bristol back in  July 2015. In that post I referred to ATM working on a piece for Upfest 2015. This is that piece.

ATM, North Street, Bristol, January 2015
ATM, North Street, Bristol, January 2015

ATM is a tireless campaigner for a better understanding of the plight of our wildlife and he has given several interviews about his work – here is a lovely one from Inspiring City.

ATM, North Street, Bristol, January 2015
ATM, North Street, Bristol, January 2015

This hand painted image of a hen harrier is typical of his work, and although most of his work is to be seen in London, there are several in Bristol…check out Leonard Lane, for example.

7.5/10

137. North Street, No.131.

This is a fine, clean tribute to Mibsy (Mibzy) by Inkie (update – and Cheo) , that can be found at the Eastern end of North Street. It is one of several such tributes that I have featured from Stokes Croft, Gloucester Road and Cheltenham Road.

Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016
Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016

This piece, I believe, was put up around the time of Upfest 2015, and typifies the love and respect the graff/street art community had for Mibsy.

Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016
Cheo and Inkie, North Street, Bristol, January 2016

Not instantly identifiable as an Inkie, I had to do a little digging to confirm. Since writing this post, I have been informed by Tuco that the piece was a collaboration between Inkie and Cheo. Props to both.

 

136. Old Bread Street

This is the image I have agonised over most since I started blogging about Bristol street art. I came across it in the amazing car park at the end of Old Bread Lane surrounded by hoardings that make fabulous practice walls for local artists.

Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015
Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015

I like the work so much that it adorns the front cover of my ‘street art calendar 2016’, but it is only recently that I made out the artist’s name…it is blindingly obvious now, with hindsight. Sled One is another Bristol artist, who seems to work with several other artists, including SPZero76, featured in yesterday’s entry.

Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015
Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015

There appears to be a hell of a lot of meaning in this piece…it would appear to have an environmental theme and a ‘cutting off his nose to spite his face’ kind of thing going on. The character also really reminds me of Woody Woodpecker, although I am sure that is accidental. I cannot say how much I like it. I took the picture last November, but I expect it has been painted over by now.

Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015
Sled One, Old Bread Street, Bristol, November 2015

9/10

135. Gloucester Road, Poppers

A wonderful new piece by SPZero76 has recently appeared on the side wall of Poppers, a party shop on the Gloucester Road. It would seem that SPZero76 has been rather busy lately, with a recent piece also appearing in Shoreditch, London. UPDATE 4 March 16: via Twitter, SPZero76 informes me that the wildstyle burner in the centre of this piece is by Mr Wigz, so it is a collaboration between the two.

SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016
SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016

SPZero76 is an illustrator and street artist who is based in Bristol and London, who has a great website where you can find out more about his work.

SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016
SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016

I particularly like this new mural because it brightens up what was previously a rather dull alleyway. There are several references in the work including to Lost Souls (his crew) and to Massive Attack (Robert del Naja is an active street artist, 3D).

SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016
SPZero76, Gloucester Road, Bristol February 2016

A really great new addition to my local area.

8.5/10

134. Princes Place

I had a great stroll along the Gloucester Road this morning, and photographed loads of street art, some of it very recent, other pieces, like this one, that have been around for some time.

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

This area would appear to be one of 3Dom’s favourite haunts, and there numerous works by him nearby. This one ‘when philosophers are kings’ dates back to at least 2010. The colours have faded a little, but it really has something about it.

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

It is a great wall, and I am a little surprised that it hasn’t been sprayed over. It is interesting that 3Dom’s work is rarely tagged or marked, I guess his pieces are respected, and rightly so.

7/10