Whenever I see the number 404, my heart sinks, thinking of some kind of computer error code. Fortunately no such disappointment with this fine piece from Kid Krishna at the end of the tunnel, it what is proving to be a fruitful and exciting comeback after a few lay months.
Kid Krishna, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
I have to take it on trust that the letters spell out CRIE, because, although it is what he usually writes, the letters are very well disguised and obscured. I love the way the greyscale piece draws in a puddle of colour towards the middle, a little reminiscent of those blotting paper colour separations we did at school in science lessons.. Great to have Kid Krishna firing on all cylinders again.
On one of my favourite walls is this slightly different piece by Lee Roy, spelling out VLAD. I am not sure if this is a one-off, or a new direction of travel, but I am guessing the former. This is a funny old wall really, sometimes a piece can last a month or two, and other times there may be half a dozen in a period of a few days. This one and its predecessor didn’t last long.
Lee Roy, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2024
Lee Roy has worked this piece very nicely, set on a dramatic red background with yellow drops, his gold/grey/white fill is full of symbols and patterns that are commonly used in his and others’ work. Verging on anti-style, this is a great piece by Lee Roy.
Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024
Marckinetic usually paints alongside his friend Kid Krishna, and so when the latter goes quiet, so does Marckinetic. Now that Kid Krishna has started firing on all cylinders again, Marckinetic has been out on at least two occasions recently.
Marckinetic, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, January 2024
This piece, painted in January, shows us just how original the artist’s style is. I believe that there is writing here, just not the way we are used to seeing it (there is a possibility the letters say MARC – CORRECTION – they spell out FFS (thank you Paul H)). The deep white shadows have a little bit of Acer One about them, but the ‘cosmic’ fills are all Marckinetic, and something of speciality. This is an unusual and very welcome piece in the vast spectrum of Bristol street/graffiti art.
Bnie, Pekoe and Evey, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2024
It is always a great pleasure to see any combination of RBF artists collaborating, and this is an early year beauty from Bnie, Pekoe and Evey. Unfortunately the photographs are a bit rubbish on account of tree shadows cast on the wall by a low winter sun. Fortunately, the girls declare that ‘2024 is going to be sexy AF’.
Bnie, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2024
Bnie starts the triptych, writing her letters with a certain amount of expression, and looking wonderfully free. The clever drop shadow appears to surround the letters as well as giving them depth. Bnie has used a three shade fill which is topped off with some darker bubbly shapes. A very nice piece of writing indeed.
Pekoe, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2024
There is something very different from Pekoe in the middle of the collaboration, which features a smartly dressed woman with a fancy green and yellow scarf wrapped around her neck. It is quite unusual for Pekoe to paint full (or even half) body characters, and it will be interesting to see if this is something she continues with this year.
Evey, Greenbank, Bristol, January 2024
Rounding off on the right is some tidy bubble writing from Evey, with a rather saucy ‘V’. Her fills are very nicely worked and the flow of colours through the letters are most enjoyable. I am not too sure about the drop shadow, which doesn’t quite hit the mark for me. Certainly a great start to the year though. I am looking forward to a whole lot more from RBF in 2024.
Silent Hobo and Mr Riks, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
Flying out of Grenoble today, so no time to write much about this magnificent collaboration from Silent Hobo and Mr Riks. The former has been rather quiet on the streets of late, but the former a little more busy than usual. A classy collaborative effort, with some contemporary commentary thrown in for good measure.
Silent Hobo and Mr Riks, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024Silent Hobo and Mr Riks, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
There are three or four artists who fairly regularly paint in L Dub, and one of them is Donz. His work is always original and often showcases the artist’s good eye for great colour combinations. This piece on the wall of the water company pumping station is a cracker.
Donz, L Dub, Bristol, January 2024
Although I haven’t seen a huge number of Donz’ pieces, I consider this to be the best I have photographed. The letters spell DONZ, in a style that is verging on anamorphic, with a clever use of colour and shade to produce huge depth in the letters. This is a much more than decent piece from Donz.
Nips is an artist I really don’t know too much about and haven’t posted very often. Her work is neat and tidy and I would put her into the same style grouping as Desi, Evey, Maes and Rose (whose work I have not yet posted). The letters are large and clear, no disguises or complacated design work, simply honest and authentic graffiti writing.
Nips, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, January 2023
This is a small one from the J2 roundabout, next to the large Tesco in Eastville. Letters spelling out NIPS are filled with lilac and decorated with orange and white spots. Keeping it simple can be a good thing where the phrase ‘more is less’ can be applied. I hope to see much more of Nips’ work in 2024.
There are some pieces that stick in the memory, for one reason or another, and this unusual piece by Minto is right up there, and to be fair, quite a lot of his pieces are memorable, because of his design ideas and concepts.
Minto, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2024
The letters have an organic look to them, almost melting down the wall, like wax from a candle. Accompanying the letters are a couple of characters and a bird’s head. I don’t really know what it all means, but I’m not too sure I need to. The whole thing looks great and has a touch of class about it.
Hitting the slopes hard tomorrow, so heading to bed now (written last night)
It is always a genuine pleasure to find Haka pieces, and this CK One graffiti writing and character combination is a bit of fun under the M32. I don’t know who the character is, but it looks a little unfinished to me.
Haka, Frome Side, Bristol, January 2024
The solid black letters really stand out, however, the white paint drop shadow is a little thinner, and could have done with another coat, maybe. Great work and a playful approach from Haka.
Keos visited Bristol not so long ago and left a few pieces, three I think, and this is the second I found. I don’t think I am likely to find another one. I think I got lucky to find this one, because I only rarely visit the Junction 2 roundabout of the M32.
Keos, M32 roundabout J2, Bristol, January 2024
As far as I can make out, Keos seems to travel around the country a fair bit and leaves his distinctive letters for all to enjoy. This one is big, bold and vibrant, welcoming visitors to the Eastville Tesco. Great colours, fills and background – always welcome to visit.
Natural adventures 