Take to the streets - Bristol's love affair with street art
Whether you’re discovering Bristol for the first time, or are a haggard third year attempting to get more involved with what our wonderful city has to offer, the Arts Editors have compiled a handy guide to Bristol’s street art and graffiti.
Street art has always screamed rebellion; both in its rejection of traditional artistic styles and its constant battle with the law. The art form itself originated when slogans of protest and political commentary were scrawled onto public walls, and so it’s no surprise that defiant, political, angry Bristol loves graffiti. As well as holding the legacy of some of the most famous graffiti artists in the world, new work is constantly being produced around Bristol, and this scene is still very much alive.
"it’s no surprise that defiant, political, angry Bristol loves graffiti"
Bristol owes much of its graffiti fame to Banksy, celebrated globally for his satirical murals, distinctive stencilling technique and political activism. He starting working around Bristol in the early 90s as part of an underground graffiti scene, collaborating with other artists like 3D who later went on to found band Massive Attack. In his early career, Banksy created works like The Mild Mild West and A Well Hung Lover in Bristol, and though his acclaim has grown, this mysterious artist seems to often return to his home city, with his biggest ever exhibition in the Bristol City Museum in 2009, The Girl with a Pierced Ear Drum (depicted below) painted in 2014, and Dismaland in nearby Weston-super-Mare in 2015.
The art on Nelson Street (depicted below) forms a collection called See No Evil. In 2011, 72 street artists from across the globe swarmed to the Nelson Street area in a council lead project to brighten up the otherwise dreary 1960s concrete jungle. The project was so successful that it was run again in 2012.
Bedminster deserves a mention as another famously graffitied area in Bristol, closely rivalling Stokes Croft in reputation. Each summer, it hosts Upfest – the world’s largest street art and graffiti festival. In 2017, Upfest saw 350 artists from across the globe and over 50,000 visitors descend on this corner of Bristol. There is also the Upfest Gallery in Bedminster – Bristol’s longest running urban art gallery – with regular exhibitions and specialist books.
Scroll down for more of our favorite Bristol street art spots...
Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road
The Stokes Croft area is at the heart of Bristol's love affair with street art. Stretching from the Bear Pit - one of Bristol's legal graffiti platforms - to Stokes Croft, Cheltenham Road and Gloucester Road, you're guaranteed to see wolrd class murals wherever you go. Look out for works by Banksy, Inkie, and the collective People's Republic of Stokes Croft among countless talented artists. The area is also the home of Bristol's urban culture, with it's quirky independent shops and cafes, galleries and bars to explore.
Image credits: Epigram / Avital Carno.
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Old Town
Park Street
Bristol is full of wonderful street art. We love this one by #Banksy just a short walk from us on #ParkStreet! If you're new to #Bristol, grab your camera and make the most of it (PS. Don't forget to stop by #Yakinori for delicious Japanese inspired treats) #HelloBristol pic.twitter.com/SoRKe7TY2Q
— Yakinori Bristol (@YakinoriBristol) September 20, 2018
University
Find this 'Uncertain world' where Woodland Road meets Park Row. Image credits: Epigram / Avital Carno.
(Featured image credits: Unsplash / Niv Singer)
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