More abstract fantasticness from Mr Klue, who after a long absence from the streets has now hit a rhythm and it turning out some lovely pieces in the St Werburghs tunnel on a regular basis.
Mr Klue, St Werburghs, Bristol, May 2022
This one is in his prime spot, which I am sure will have made him very happy, and reintroduces another of his recurring themes, floating stairs or steps. I don’t quite know the significance of the steps, but Mr Klue uses them in a lot of his work. A stairway to heaven perhaps? Such is the new productivity of the artist, I am struggling to keep up with posting his work, especially with Upfest and a trip to Porto to report on. Never been so blog-busy.
DJ Perks, St Werburghs, Bristol, January 2023DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, November 2022DJ Perks, St Werburghs, Bristol, September 2022DJ Perks, Upfest 22, Bristol, May 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022D J Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022D J Perks, L Dub, Bristol, April 2022DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, January 2022DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, June 2021DJPerks, LDub, Bristol, June 2021DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, January 2021DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, December 2020DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, June 2020DJ Perks, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2019DJ Perks, L Dub, Bristol, October 2019DJPerks, Dean Lane, Bristol, July 2019DJPerks, L Dub, Bristol, July 2019
This is one of several Logoe pieces from a short visit to Bristol by the artist recently, and in my view probably the best. On the best wall (IMHO) at Dean Lane skate park, Logoe has taken time and care with this piece, and the proportions work well.
Logoe, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2022
Following his regular style of slim, white script writing spelling out his name decorated with stripes and elyptical dots, Logoe has produced a beauty here. the colour combinations are excellent, and the whole piece really benefits from a buffed wall, without which it would probably look a bit untidy. I think I still have one or two pieces from this Bristol trip.
I am told you make your own luck, but I am not so sure, sometimes you just get lucky, and my chance encounter with SkyHigh and Roo down at Cumberland Basin while walking the dog a couple of weeks back, was a real lucky bonus.
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
SkyHigh paints with an intensity and concentration that does not lend itself to chit chat, and so while he got on with the job of painting this stunner, I had a nice conversation with Roo, largely about dogs, not something I would have imagined doing four or five years ago. How curious our life pathways are.
SkyHigh, Cumberland Basin, Bristol, May 2022
This piece from SkyHigh is an absolute jewel, with so much detail and interest in every letter. It seems that there is no limit to his talent, and it was amazing to watch him spray the folds in the letter ‘i’, to create a 3D look of paper. Each of the letters is meticulously and lovingly created to leave us with this masterpiece (not a word I use often). SkyHigh and Roo will always be very welcome visitors to Bristol.
There are some artists who never need introducing because their style is so unique, and without doubt Acer is one of those artists. Although he switches up his design concepts from time to time, they are still instantly recognisable as his work.
Acer, Greenbank, Bristol, May 2022
This playful rainbow lettering piece at Greenbank uses his current style and typeface to create the word ACER, with one small twist, literally, the piece is upside down. Clever work, once again perfectly executed.
I bring you a couple of nice pieces from Klashwhensober from underneath the M32, the bit that is over the Bristol Frome (hence Frome Side), and adjacent to the M32 Spot. As with several other prolific artists, I have started to post more than one piece at a time if they are from around the same time in the same location, simply because I have a backlog of unpublished pictures that is swelling immeasurably, thanks to Upfest 2022 and a short trip to Porto, with its emerging street art scene.
Klashwhensober, Frome side, Bristol, May 2022
The first piece is a beautifully colourful and happy SOBA piece that is filled with a natural scene including clouds, some birds and a superb purple flower. There is more going on here, though, with a green line that looks liked barbed wire running across the piece. I’ll need to ask Klashwhensober what it is all about next time I see him. I like the KLASH block letters on the ‘H’ too.
Klashwhensober, Frome side, Bristol, May 2022
His second piece, which might have been his first piece, is another set of SOBA letters, with an icy theme happening. The letters are filled with what looks like cracked ice, and the bottom of the letters are fragmenting in frozen blocks and falling to the ground. A fire in the centre of the piece provides an additional burst of colour. Both pieces are nicely done and very ‘Klashwhensober’ish’ in style.
One of the highlights of the last few weeks has been the appearance of a couple of Cheo pieces, something there has been a distinct lack of over the last two years. Here he has combined with Kopsky, an artist I am not familiar with.
Cheo, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2022
The central character is classic Cheo. A caricature in a cartoon style with all the trappings of hip-hop culture. Beautifully painted and finished. It really has been way too long without his quality on the streets. I hope that this pieces is something of a renaissance.
Cheo and Kopsky, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2022
The letters Arne by Kopsky and are obviously the work of a very accomplished writer. I’m not too sure what the letters spell out, but the greyscale tones are a perfect foil for Cheo’s colours. I love the tape and plasters ‘attaching’ the piece to the wall. Fine work indeed in this collaboration.
This is the first Petro piece I have seen for a little while, but like all his pieces it is most welcome. Spelling out the word PETRO, the letters have a rather organic feel to them not really conforming to any specific convention, but immediately identifiable as a Petro piece. I love the “age 49 3/4” which made me laugh. A fine piece.
Petro, M32 roundabout, Bristol, May 2022
Having returned from Porto in the small hours of this morning, I have had time to reflect on the comparative street art scenes in Porto and in Bristol. My conclusion is that the two cities have very different styles, Porto’s seemingly in its infancy and Bristol’s, a mature and extraordinarily diverse and accomplished scene. Both are exciting and vibrant but in different ways.
Consistency is the name of the game from Todoaciem, whose ‘CIEM’ calligraffiti writing rarely misses the mark. The colours of this piece are in line with the colours selected by his fellow artists at a paint jam in Sparke Evans Park earlier in May.
Todoaciem, Sparke Evans Park, Bristol, May 2022
It is remarkable to think that all of this intricate and beautifully executed work is painted using a spray can. I just don’t know how these guys do it. They are magicians. I am having to rush my posts a little this morning as my daughter and I are jumping on a Porto tram shortly to get to the coast.
It is always most gratifying to watch an artist get into their stride and a rhythm. Ceus first announced his arrival in Bristol in October 2021 and since then has been getting into a reasonably regular rhythm, and his original writing style has been a breath of fresh air. Ceus doesn’t shy away from colour, and his pieces are full of vibrance and life.
Ceus, Dean Lane, Bristol, May 2022
Although a little awkward to photograph, the piece itself is well painted, and there is little doubt about who painted it.
That’s it for now, we have Porto to explore. Judging from our brief stroll last night it looks like a city steeped in culture, with plenty of street art and doors to keep me very happy for a long time.
