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Techni Tou Dromou
Its the Art of the Road.
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Frankenstein Halloween graffiti street art Bristol
This outstanding Frankenstein’s monster piece is definitely a Halloween contribution from Kosc, an artist on fire at the moment. Look at how the piece stands out and demands to be looked at against the dreary backdrop of hoardings and buffed wall outside the Blue Mountain.
This series of greyscale pieces set on an orange background is becoming a bit of a strong theme in Kosc’s portfolio, and a thoroughly enjoyable one at that. There is great use of tone in this piece, providing depth and facial contours that lift the features on the monster’s face so well.
I first came across this artist’s work in Moon Street, which runs parallel with Stokes Croft at the back of Blue Mountain, and it would seem that this is a spot favoured by Kosc. This is good news indeed, because few artists seem to bother with the area these days, compared to a few years ago. Great stuff, and enjoy a spooky evening
Although officially located on North Street we’ve given the Tobacco Factory a section of it’s own. Here the centre piece wall of Upfest is always created and this year the key festival artist for Upfest 2022 is Sophie Mess. Around the back multiple artists also create works in the enclosed car park. The streets in the immediate vicinity also are regular locations for street art. The Souk Kitchen and the Bristol Beer Factory Taproom generally not to be missed.
Justinks – Tobacco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
Originally from Malta, Justinks is known for his murals and his tattoos. Painting for Upfest 2022 his sleeping fox brings together both of those styles
Rich Simmons – Tobacco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
Pop artist Rich Simmons is well known for his vibrant colourful and bold images. Mainly painting in the studio these days, he nevertheless was able to throw of the cobwebs with this fun piece for Upfest
Madonia Art – Tobaccco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
“I am inspired by everyday events in my life, by the people I meet; all are reflected through me into my canvas” says Romanian artist Madonia on her website. Her piece in the Tobacco Factory an interconnection of all things. Faces weaving together with colour and flora and fauna
Adam Hernandez – Tobacco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
A mask set against swirling patterns of green and orange colour. Adam Hernandez’s piece in the Tobacco Factory returned to a familiar motif in his work, the Godmask. “They represent powers and attitudes that can empower and embolden us” he told Inspiring City. “This mask in particular is inspired by my Puerto Rican heritage and celebratory masks we make called vejigantes.”
Des Murs – Tobacco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
Worthing artist Des Murs has combined his tag with a lizard on this piece within the Tobacco Factory festival area
Idiom – Tobacco Factory Car Park, Raleigh Road – instagram
Called ‘Lovestruck’ the image shows the same image slightly altered of a man set against an abstract background. It was they say “meant to be about the moment you fall in love”. Adding that in the original thinking there should be text to go alongside saying ‘then it hit him. He was in love’. Eventually deciding that this may be overkill on the day. The piece was created over a number of different layers against the backdrop of a huge crowd of people. “We even got a spontaneous round of applause for Hugo’s graceful removal of the tape to reveal the final stripy mural
A giant yellow and orange parrot has appeared from Curtis Hylton on this key location on East Street. The artist as been a popular presence at Upfest over recent years with murals created in both 2020 and 2021. His style blends elements of the natural world together often mixing both flora and fauna.
Wxttsart, Rozalita and Stika, Albert Park Place, Bristol, January 2022
One of my favourite walls in Bristol and one that changes probably less than once a year. The wall is tucked away in St Paul’s and has been brilliantly painted by a trio of Bristol artists, Wxttsart, Rozalita and Stika.
On the left of the triptych is a wonderful ‘Milk’ piece of graffiti writing by Wxttsart. I have seen a lot of his work about the place, but I think that this might be the first time I have posted anything by him. It will not be the last.
The centrepiece, and my favourite part of the collaboration is by Rozalita. I have said plenty in recent weeks about her diversification, and this is yet another outstanding example of her progress and development. It is a wonderful and slightly peculiar portrait piece with loads of expression and interest. Very lively.
To the right is some fine writing from Stika whose ability to switch from writing to character pieces is second to none. There is something quite logical, mathematical and regimented in his writing here, and it has a uniqueness to it. The colours match those of Wxttsart, and bring a completeness to the whole collaboration. Some lovely stuff here.
Nothing from Rowdy for a long while and then two posts in close succession, what joy. Rowdy is held in high regard in Bristol. He is a friend of Banksy and one of the early graffiti artists emerging from the Bristol scene in the 1980s. Probably the biggest public impact that he has made is his trademark crocodile which adorns various buildings around the city.
This magnificent beast for Upfest’s 75 walls in 75 days festival is the largest and most prominent piece I have seen by Rowdy since his piece in Stokes Croft that came tumbling down with the demolition of buildings around the Carriageworks.
I am very fond of Rowdy’s crocodiles and other crazy creatures and it is fitting that Upfest should honour him with such a large wall, which just happens to be a perfect fit. Wonderful stuff
Bristol’ own Rowdy decorating the top of the Redpoint climbing centre with his familiar crocodile
A portrait of ‘Clement’ looking out of the wall on this popular spot on the side of the Hen & Chicken. Zabou has become known for her impressively detailed black and white portraits. Last year she created a mural of fellow artist Slim Safont as part of the 75 walls in 75 days project
The very first time I saw Zabou’s work was at an Upfest festival a few years ago. After that I saw more of her work on a couple of trips to London and have become a big fan. Her photorealistic portraits are among the best in the world, and it is a privilege when she comes to visit the west of England, in particular Bristol and Cheltenham
All I know about this magnificent portrait piece is that it is called stuck, and given that I was a little bit behind the curve, I never saw her painting it, but only as the final completed work, which meant I couldn’t even ask her about it.
I love the way that the face is slightly compressed and contorted in the places where it comes in contact with the hole in the wall. I also love the overall trompe l’oeil effect of the painted brick wall.
This is a magnificent piece that adds weight to the international status of Upfest and helps to draw visitors and inward investment to the city. We have come a long way since Banksy and his contemporaries. A truly stunning piece from Zabou.
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.
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.
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
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.
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
A beautiful commission mural by Zase on the front and side of a recently refurbished restaurant
This year's Upfest in Bristol features the television cartoon series "The Simpsons", a show that has been running since the late 1980s. Creator of "The Simpsons" Matt Groening has selected some of the street artist's for this year's Upfest. In addition, other street artists have played a part in honouring the cartoon family in their murals for this year's Upfest. One of the artists who painted on North Street in Bedminster, Bristol, is Louis Masai. Masai's work always draws connections to environmental issues, and that is what his stunning artwork is reflecting this year. It is similar to some of the work he has created in London.
The work depicts a coral sea with fish, turtles, and colourful plants. However, floating plastic bags can be seen amongst the colourful creatures. The artwork sends a message about pollution in water.
As a tribute to "The Simpsons", the three-eyed fish in the cartoon style created by Matt Groening also makes an appearance
One of the less celebrated, but nonetheless special, walls at Upfest is this side street, Mount Pleasant Terrace, just off North Street. Previous occupiers of this wall have been Sokar Uno (2016) and My Dog Sighs and Snub 23 (2017), so it has a great pedigree. This year the mural went big, spreading beyond the first floor and covering the entire end of row wall.
At first glance it might not be obvious that this is a Louis Masai piece, but a closer inspection gives away some of the tell tale signs, such as a patchwork turtle, and of course a signature
I was pretty spaced out at the festival, absorbing so much visual information but not really seeing things right in front of me – sensory overload if you like. I didn’t take a proper look at the wall until the scaffolding was down a couple of days later and then it hit me, this is a brilliant piece by Louis Masai
There is so much to look at in this coral reef scene, but of course it comes with an environmental message, and there floating around the reef are a couple of Tesco bags, which once seen can’t be unseen.
I love the way that he entered into the spirit of the Simpsons theme of the festival and presented us with a cartoon mutant fish with three eyes gawkily cruising across the reef. Some serious messages interspersed with a bit of fun. A great piece to start with. Hats off to Louis Masai.
A new mural has gone up in Stokes Croft painted by over 20 different artists in Bristol highlighting ‘hope, restoration and transformation’.
The main artist behind the project, Emma Holloway, believes the street art “connects to the bigger picture of what’s happening in Bristol
It was created over a two week period and the first half was completed last year but due to coronavirus restrictions, the second half took longer than anticipated to finish.
The mural was commissioned by E5 church where you’ll spot the painting on the side of the building.
Emma, who will also be painting at Upfest next year, said: “Everyday it is seen by families who live nearby, NHS workers on their way to work, those living in the Compass, a homeless shelter next door, those enjoying the local music, art, restaurants and cafes in Stokes as well as visitors to Bristol from all over the world.
The wall of multi-coloured, multi-faceted gemstones represent the diversity of E5 church and the worldwide church. It’s a big mix of cultures, races, ages, social classes and walks of life.”
The team is urging members of the public to get involved with their work, take a picture with the interactive butterfly and post images on Instagram to help spread their message
The butterfly on the mural represents “metamorphosis and spiritual rebirth”.
They would like the art work to bring a “hope-filled vibe” to the area.
We’ve had so many positive comments over the last year about how much people like what we’ve created from people saying it makes them feel happy just looking at it, to ‘It’s like a journey, like we’re all in process of transformation’”, Emma said.
Delores Campbell street art portrait mural Bristol
Mrs Campbell is one of the Seven Saints of St Pauls. She had a lot to do with carnival,” says 11-year-old Cornelius Conway. “I really like it – it’s a local landmark.”
“It’s only in this part of Bristol they celebrate people like Mrs Campbell,” adds his friend, Amari Mowatt.
The artist behind the Seven Saints of St Pauls murals project, Michele Curtis, smiles at their comments: this is exactly the kind of response she hoped for when she dreamed up the idea of commemorating the seven founders of the St Pauls carnival on its 50th anniversary.
It is not that Curtis wants to ignore the city’s soul-searching over its pivotal role in the slave trade, but she would prefer to focus on the contributions of the African-Caribbean community.
“I think it is important that other communities understand the legacy slavery left. But I also think it is important to celebrate the positive things that have come out of that history: diversity, communities working together and stories of people triumphing out of adversity,” she says.
Her latest mural depicts Delores Campbell, who was a foster carer to more than 30 children and a lifelong campaigner for racial equality.
“I’m highlighting these very humble heroes. Some people may know their names but not necessarily know they were the driving forces who changed the city and the country for the better,” Curtis says.
It is the second mural to be completed and – as long as the Arts Council agrees to more funding – the others will be ready for next July’s carnival, Bristol’s answer to the Notting Hill carnival which will take place in west London on Sunday and Monday.
Campbell – along with the six other founders: Owen Henry, Roy Hackett, Audley Evans, Clifford Drummond, Carmen Beckford and Barbara Dettering – put on the first carnival in 1968 to celebrate the unity that helped to end the “colour bar” on the city’s buses, which prevented recent West Indian immigrants joining bus crews despite labour shortages.
They started carnival to say thank you to the city for all the support during the bus boycott and to promote integration by inviting people into St Pauls to learn about the African-Caribbean community,” says Curtis.
The boycott campaign – which encouraged passengers to stop using the bus service while it denied work to black people – enjoyed support across the city, including university students, churchgoers and the then Bristol South East MP, Tony Benn. It paved the way for anti-discrimination laws. “The founders organised the bus boycott, which led to the 1965 and 1968 Race Relations Acts,” she adds.
The only other finished mural shows travel agent Henry, who helped many settle in the area and played a key role in the boycott. Lisa Blackwood is pleased to live in a house with Henry’s face emblazoned across it. “I’m really proud – I chose Mr Henry. He helped my mum come over from the West Indies in the 1960s,” she says. “He did all the paperwork to get her through immigration
Only two of the seven founders are still alive: Hackett and Dettering. In a house on the other side of the M32, Dettering, 79, who helped hundreds of families during her time as a social worker, says she is pleased to have been chosen as one of the Seven Saints. “I feel honoured because I’ve worked for years in St Pauls,” she says in her living room, with its family pictures and mementoes from Guyana.
“When I go to St Pauls everybody calls to me ‘Aunty Babs’, ‘Aunty Barbara’, ‘Mrs D’ or ‘Mummy’ – never ‘Barbara’. It is a mark of respect and it is very endearing,” she says.
