On Monday this week I posted a gallery of Zase’s work in Bristol and it certainly caught the attention of many visitors to Natural Adventures. This is his archway piece in John Street and it is an absolute beauty.
Zase, John Street, Bristol, September 2020
I think that Zase is the only artist who has used the archway to create a kind of depth effect, almost like a trompe l’oeil piece. The plants are beautifully painted, a swiss cheese plant (Monstera deliciosa) and I’m not too sure about the red leaved one (Note to self – do a cheese plant special). Plants featured in his recent collaboration piece with Silent Hobo and it would seem to be something Zase is having a bit of fun with at the moment. A really classy piece.
Every year or two, something wonderful happens on the walls of the Dare To adult night club in the form of the Raw Wax Graffiti Jam (thank you Paul). This year’s paint jam was truly exceptional in terms of the pieces created, sadly I didn’t make it on the day, but took some pictures a day or two later.
Zase and Silent Hobo, Alfred Street, Bristol, September 2020
This full wall piece is an extraordinary and quite brilliant collaboration from Zase and Silent Hobo, full of colour and vibrancy, lifting the spirits in an industrial part of Bristol that is far from inspiring. It is incredible what a lift great street art can give to an area, changing the whole character of a place and this collaboration does that in spades.
On the left hand side Zase has created one of his beautiful 3D anamorphic signatures set on a background of what look like Swiss cheese plant leaves (a favourite for street artists). On the right are a couple of large Bristol youths, always so beautifully portrayed by Silent Hobo. The whole thing works very well indeed and I am not too sure that these two have worked together before, but the result is amazing
This is a wonderful old piece (2014 I think) from Zase, that I have only just photographed. Due to thee Covid-19 lock down, this wall is clear of any parked cars in front of it and this is the first time when I have been passing on foot that I have been able to get a clean shot.
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
The whole thing is unmistakably by Zase and the 3D writing in the middle, which you’d normally expect to spell ZASE actually spells A&M, which is the name of the garage A&M Motor Services in York Street.
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
On the right of the piece is a pretty graphic crash-crumpled car, slightly on the macabre side, and on the left a rather snazzy Mercedes and dashboard. I think that this is an absolutely stunning piece and has weathered really well over the years with only a little bit of tagging.
Zase, York Street, Bristol, March 2020
This area is crammed with amazing work from Zase who lives nearby. We are very lucky to have him in Bristol. I think it is high time I produced a gallery of his work… watch this space.
Continuing with the late release of prisoners from my archive, I bring you this extraordinary piece from April this year by Zase. The commission was one of two pieces that he painted and is at the back of Marlborough House, a student accommodation. Bristol has two universities and a whole ton of students, which is part of what makes Bristol so mixed and interesting, but the expansion of UWE in particular has led to a massive growth in student accommodation and many of the recent developments in the centre have been built by the universities.
Zase, Barton Road, Bristol, April 2019
I guess it is great to see the university promoting Bristol’s artists with a commmission like this, so I can’t really complain. Zase is a truly gifted artist who seems to be able to turn his hand to pretty much anything and here he has painted a fabulous seascape with racing yachts. I particularly like the pixellated effect of leaving a few bricks unpainted at the top of the piece.
What a wonderful clean and colourful piece by Bristol-based Zase. There is rather a nice little story going on in this piece, and I love the sketch on the floor of the 3D writing of the artist’s name that appears on the right hand side of the piece.
Zase and Dekor, Upfest, Bristol, July 2018
Zase has been painting solo for a little bit as his collaborator Dekor returned to his homeland for a while. It looks like this is by both of them, or at least it is signed by both on the bottom left-hand side of the piece, so maybe Dekor is back on the scene again. There is a serenity and maybe sadness about the piece, which is certainly one of my favourites of the festival. Oh yeah, and if you wanted evidence of the rain we had, the picture above is a little on the watery side…grrrrr.
I found this by complete accident. I was driving around town and decided to make a quick trip over to the M32 roundabout to see if there was anything new to photograph there, but on the way I passed this building and caught sight of the bright colours in my peripheral vision. Thank heavens for peripheral vision…eh?
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
The piece, on a newly redeveloped site is by Zase and has really made a statement for this otherwise utterly unremarkable building. I often wonder to myself whether great murals add to the value of a property or detract from it. I know my own personal view, but would love to know the view of buyers and sellers of property.
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
I’m not sure what the brief was for this mural, but he has incorporated portraits of ordinary people, perhaps reflecting the diversity of the surrounding area. As always he has incorporated his 3D ZASE, which is something of a hallmark on his murals.
Zase, Newfoundland Road, Bristol, September 2018
If you can be bothered, it is well worth going onto Google maps and streetview to see what a fantastic improvement has been made to this building by the refurb and the mural togather. This is almost like gentrification but maintaining the spirit of the community, and I am all for it (provided the resulting apartments/offices are truly affordable).
Once in a while we are lucky enough in Bristol to see a large commission piece appear in a public space, the last significant one being the Jodi piece for the Florist on the corner of Park Street and Charlotte street. This beautiful commission is by Zase and can be found in Mina Road.
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
Were it not for visionaries who commission this work in the first place, our streets would be considerably duller than they are. In this case, the recent owner of the restaurant is also owner of several other buildings in the area and he is keen to get some of those painted up too.
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
This magnificent piece is a solo work by Zase as I am told that Dekor, his painting partner, has returned to his homeland (Slovakia?). A theme that Zase returns to again and again is the natural world, and this piece showcases his talent for painting birds and a natural landscape.
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
There is something about flamingos that street artists seem to like – maybe it is the vibrant colours or the curious body form, whatever it is there are a disproportionate number of them out there. Not that I’m complaining mind.
Zase and Dekor, Mina Road, Bristol, June 2018
I like pretty much everything about this mural and of course it contains the trademark 3D moniker from the artist just to the right of the flamingo. Well worth a trip to see this one.
Zase and Dekor are the masters of large high-impact walls in Bristol, and most of the pieces that they do, go up and stay up. In this particular case they have replaced a piece that they sprayed here a few years ago, because the wall needed to be re-rendered.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
The wall is a local landmark which has a vast audience because it is just off the M32 and outside a large retail park and the Eastville Tesco. Thousands of people will drive past it every day and I’m sure will be captivated by the unfolding story.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
The central theme of the piece revolves around some local wildlife, a squirrel, a robin, a fox, a hedgehog and a badger, set in a rather stark woodland. Hovering above is a fabulous 3D wildstyle ZASE, a feature common to all their collaborations.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
There is a wonderful touch in this work, a reference to the piece that existed here before – a lady riding on the back of a turtle with a colander on her head – she is in the bottle. On reflection, I wonder if it is not a lady, but a gentleman…I can’t be sure now.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Road, Bristol, September 2017
This is a mighty and detailed piece that sits so comfortably in this location – I am certain that it will remain here for many years cheering up shoppers and commuters and bringing a smile to their faces. Xase and Dekor doing Bristol proud.
Zase and Dekor, Cottrell Street, Bristol, August 2015
Another column under the M32, and another brilliant piece which is impossible to do justice to with my limited photographic skills. This distinctive and crisp piece is by Zase and Dekor with an imaginative and creative underwater scene.
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
I love the artistic style of this duo and the combination of the wildstyle 3D ZASE lettering combined with a fantastical scene.
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
The interesting thing about painting a column is that the story that unfolds is caught up in a loop, never-ending. There is no beginning and no end, simply a scene. This must present a bit of a challenge to the artists who choose to spray all four sides.
Zase and Dekor, M32 Spot, Bristol, June 2017
There is a wit and charm about this particular work – the diver is holding a roller and seems unaware of the looming shark. Perhaps he will beat it off using his artistic weapon of choice. I am a fan of this project, but columns really are a nightmare.
