Upfest is back with a whole series of murals painted throughout May 2022. Based in Bristol the event primarily takes part in the Bedminster area of the city. It’s an area which has become synonymous with street art. The festival remains the largest street art event of its kind in Europe.
Street Art Festival
Culminating in a vibrant weekend event at the end of May, many artists created work in the weeks beforehand. Given the amount of street artists taking part it’s a good way of both controlling the flow of art and resources. It also means that the whole month becomes a kind of extended festival in itself. Big walls from the likes of Sophie Mess at the Tobacco Factory, Epod on the Redpoint Climbing Centre, Aches on North Street and Curtis Hylton on East Street were amongst a whole load completed before the main weekend’s festivities.
Bristol Murals
Despite being very active in the years throughout the pandemic, it will be the first time since 2018 that the festival will have run in its current form. Initially planning for 2019 to be a fallow year after 10 straight events, the organisers instead created a series of summer editions. Planning to return properly in 2020 that festival didn’t work out for obvious reasons due to the timing of the pandemic. The following year in 2021 didn’t see a festival but it did see an extraordinary amount of walls painted. The ambitious 75 murals in 75 days event in particular creating a massive selection of artworks. The team also completed the painting of the Six Sisters series of murals on North Street during that time.
Map of Upfest 2022 Murals
Murals of Upfest 2022
An incredible amount of murals have been created for Upfest 2022. Dotted around the areas of Bedminster, Southville and Ashton Gate. There is a combination of regular, new and returning artists. Muralists and street artists with different styles and from all over the world descending on Bristol. For this post we’ve only featured the permanent murals that these artists have created. Most of the artworks will be available to see at least until the next event.
Ashton Road & Greville Smyth Park
Sitting at the west end of Bedminster Ashton Road is a mainly residential road that leads to the Ashton Gate Football stadium. Two notable pubs the Coopers Arms and the Rising Sun have been popular locations for Upfest for years. This time for Upfest 2022 the artwork in the area is branching out into the adjoining Greville Smyth Park. Here the Bowls Club building has given itself over to participating artists. The location is also the main festival space this year with the live art event taking place here. Within this section we are also including murals from Tech Moon on the nearby Coronation Road and Ant Carver on Ashton Gate Terrace.
Acerone – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
There’s clearly a party atmosphere going on over the past month in Bedminster. That’s certainly perhaps an influence behind Acerone’s latest piece. Writing ‘Party’ on the side of the bowls club wall it’s a venue that overlooks the events of Upfest taking place over the public weekend.
Andrew Burns Colwill – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
Upfest regular Andrew Burns Colwill is one of Bristol’s original street artists from the 80’s. He is known for his political and environmental work. The man seen in the mural is a figure he comes back to in his paintings. He is representing the climate danger we find ourselves in. This time he is crouched on hot coals. The planet beneath his feet is burning up. The watch he carries has the time 2 minutes to 12. The time is almost up and he knows it.
Ant Carver – Ashton Gate Terrace – instagram
The latest mural from London based Ant Carver is a part of his wider series of work exploring loss. Called ‘Love Me/Love Not’ it is a nod to different types of loss and the way we handle them.
Derm – Coopers Arms, Ashton Road – instagram
Belgian artist Derm’s mural on the Coopers Arms shows a character in military fatigues riding a motorcycle. His work is often based around military imagery.
Jamel – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
A portrait inspired from Jamel’s Arabic heritage. The portrait he says “represents my fascination in people and the human mind”. Saying that with his work he wants to try and “capture glimpses under the surface through the surreal images”. In the background Arabic writing behind the portrait reads ‘A True Friend will see the pain in your eyes while everyone else will only see the smile on your face’.
Nol – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
Dutch artist Nol has two little pieces on the bowls club. Part of a little Nol treasure hunt they have been popping up all over Bedminster
M M G – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
Combining a figurative style with vivid colours and shapes, MMG’s work plays with a kind of complexity or duopoly. It results she says from the “fascination of trying to capture the essence of something as complex as a human being”. The two central images for her piece at Upfest 2022 show fellow artist Nazarena Silva. Images which reveal some of the different parts of them as a person. The two central characters are also representative of MMG’s own personal exploration. Composing the two figures with different colours, it’s about “finding out who I am as an artist” she says. It’s a recent direction that she has been exploring within her recent work. To put that move on full display and to reveal that battle within.
Sabek – The Rising Sun, Ashton Road – instagram
‘Serpe’ is the colourful creation from Sabek. It shows a flaming serpent with its fangs out seemingly about the pounce.
Sprite – Bowls Club, Greville Smyth Park, Ashton Road – instagram
An artist from Brighton, Sprite is known for her paintings of the natural world. For Upfest on the side of the bowls club she has painted a sugar glider possum clambering down the wall.
Tech Moon – Coronation Road – instagram
Bournemouth based Tech Moon’s Owl is the latest piece to look out over Coronation Road. Using a bold magenta colour the Owl is looking out through what appears to be the interior mouldings of an old house.
Chessel Street
Linking the main street art hub of North Street to West Street to the south. Chessel Street is mainly residential with murals here often just being located on normal houses. The artwork on this street has been growing in recent years with artworks from Curtis Hylton and Silent Hobo also recently added.
Mr Blob – 52 Chessel Street – instagram
Milan based artist Mr Blob has created a dystopic image on the side of a gable end. It’s a piece full of symbolism and references to street art and graffiti culture. The main character chewing on a record called ‘The Real Hip Hop – This is for Culture not for Trend’. A reference perhaps to the underground nature of Hip Hop certainly at its roots at the beginning of the graffiti scene. Other images show one of Banksy’s rat stencils being burnt and an article about ‘fake self-proclaimed street artists’ which has been censored. Elsewhere a phone is being held with likes and emoji’s. This is a piece which seems to be railing against the mainstreaming and perhaps commercialisation of what has become street art culture.
Riccardo ten Colombo – 72 Chessel Street – instagram
Creating work using geometric patterns. Ten Colombo seems to move between cuboid shapes and depictions of animals and birds. In Bristol on the side of a gable end on a residential street he has painted a giant cockerel.
East Street
A popular shopping area, East Street is a key location for Upfest. Several of the shops make their walls available for artists. East Street is also the perfect place to start an exploration of the area. From here you can access the main hub of North Street or you can head along West Street and explore the growing number of murals there. For this post we’ve also included works on the nearby Dean Street just a few streets to the north.
Curtis Hylton – Jans Barbers, East Street – instagram
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.
Ejits – Kaz’s Barber, East eStreet – instagram
One of local artist Ejit’s character murals has been placed above Kaz’s Barber. The artist also recently contributed to the nearby Six Sisters mural on North Street. The caterpillar included as part of the work is a previous sculpture already on the wall.
L7Matrix – Dean Street Billboard – instagram
A popular visitor to Upfest, the Brazilian painter has spent a lot of time here. His birds fly out against the concrete backdrops of the walls he paints. Captured during a moment in time yet still revealing the movement of the flight. L7matrix’s work appears as if a mixture between the abstract and the figurative.
Pitanga – 33 East Street – instagram
Lisbon’s Vaider Pitanga has created a colourful abstract piece overlooking East Street. Featuring two women on either side of a giant tree. She said that she wanted to convey a message of union and love in harmony with the whole of nature. “I work on what I feel at the moment” she told Inspiring City. Explaining that when no barriers or pre-established concepts were in place then this is the best scenario for her creativity to flow.
That magic and wonder is ever present in Pitanga’s work. The feeling of being present and in the moment. “The most beautiful thing that happened to me was at dawn when I arrived in Bristol. I went to visit the wall that I was going to paint. It was around 1am and a fox quietly passed in front of me! In Portugal foxes don’t live in cities. I found the event a bit mystical and I felt an inexplicable strength and energy!”
Sake One – Tap & Barrell, Dean Lane – instagram
Around the corner on Dean Lane are a series of portraits from Californian artist Sake One. On the side of the Tap & Barrell they show different faces of the model Christina Nadin. A muse of the artist for a number of years she is English and Filipino. Her background pays tribute to both the location and his community in San Diego where he says there is a “rather large and beloved community… I thought it would be fitting to paint a little bit of home and to honour a fair English maiden”.
Working freehand Sake One evolves his work as he goes. Mood and the flow of the paint and the way the nozzles work on the day guiding him as to where to go next. “Since many apple trees are covering the wall. I wanted to make it appear like they are forest nymphs peering through”. The name of the piece ‘Paradise Circus‘ is a nod to Bristol band Massive Attack. Intimately linked to the city, the artist is a big fan. The lyrics to the song are haunting at best he told me. “I thought it would work to give the mural this title since she has a devilish grin. I also wanted to give a wink or easter egg to Massive Attack and Bristol”.
Sepr – Hunters, East Street – instagram
Bristol local Sepr is a well known artist in the area. His characters instantly identifiable. For Upfest 2022 he has created a scene of locals all carrying on their daily business.
Taker One – PDSA Charity Shop, East Street – instagram
Clearly a cat lover, this mural from Taker One is on the front and side of the PDSA charity Shop. It shows three different paintings of cats. Originally from Hungary the artist is known for his paintings of the natural world which he blends with a graffiti style
Tape Over – St Catherines Place, East Street – instagram
Berlin based Tape Over create artwork using strips of tape. Along East Street he has created a number of images on shop windows. Portraits of Jean Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol joining a series of Greco Roman busts set against abstract backgrounds.
Tom Bob – East Street Bollards – instagram
An artist from the states, Tom Bob takes street furniture and turns them into something else entirely. His work can be seen all over East Street with the bollards in particular taking on a host of different personalities.
Woskerski – Kazs Barbers, East Street – instagram
London based Polish artist Woskerski is known for his hyper detailed and often slightly surreal paintings. His piece on the side of Kaz’s Barbers is no different. Called the ‘Saucer Spotter’ it shows two dogs playing in space helmets on what we can only assume to be a new alien world. A woman looks on whilst they run around against a backdrop of of spaceships.
Luckwell Road
A road that links the impressive murals of the Redpoint Climbing Centre to the Upfest Gallery. Luckwell Road runs between both locations and now for Upfest 2022 has its own street art with two murals added.
Juliette Viode – 41/42 Luckwell Road –instagram
A fun piece from Juliette Viode features the Crocodile from Peter Pan. On the smaller wall an alarm clock has been added along with the shadow of a hook for what’s about to happen in the story.
Martin Glover – The Luckwell – instagram
Three hot air balloons have been painted onto the side of the Luckwell pub. Perhaps a homage to Bristol’s hot air balloon festival. Surrounding each of the balloon are finger signs spelling words and sentences in British Sign Language. The artist, Martin Glover, is a deaf man himself and his work raises awareness of deaf issues and seeks to normalise conversations between deaf and non-deaf people.
North Street East
We’ve split North Street into two sections. The East section runs from East Street to the Upfest Gallery. There is so much to see on this road. Murals from Upfest 2022 mingling with street art created during other iterations and other years. Many of the local businesses from this street have got behind the event and have done for years. Key locations in the area include the North Street Standard, Sweven Coffee, KASK wine, The Old Bookshop, Petrie Glazing and the Spotted Cow pub.
Caryn Koh – Spotted Cow, North Street – instagram
On the side of the Spotted Cow, Caryn Koh returns for her second mural in the area in the past two years. Normally a studio painter, Upfest has certainly provided a different outlet to her work. She paints about themes of connection and family. Called “Ones Self” it is a continuation of that first piece created in 2021. “This time it’s about the important relationship to cultivate with yourself” says Caryn. “To understand and be at peace with who we are inside. The string that binds within us event more”.
Cheba – Kitchen by Kask, North Street – instagram
Bristol legend Cheba is a regular at Upfest as you might expect. His work centres around themes of colour, nature, light and the cosmos. The resulting paintings being splashes of colour and energy set against a concrete surface.
David Puck – North Street Standard, North Street – instagram
A street painting from David Puck’s wallflower series. Showing the face of a man looking out onto North Street. The painting incorporates a background of floral imagery interspersed with gold cracks. The mural is part of a series of works which honour ‘sensitivity’. It is says David “a trait that is shamed in our culture especially in men”. The gold cracks are reminiscent of Kintsugi, the Japanese process of repairing broken pottery with gold. It symbolises the honour that we should give to our ‘broken’ parts rather than to be shamed of them. “For me that is about how we process pain, sadness, grief” explains David. “To honour and integrate it as a part of ourselves and part of life”. David’s work is often focused on queerness and mental health.
Hazard – The Old Bookshop, North Street – instagram
Bristol local Hazard is back for Upfest 2022 after being a regular for a number of years now. This year the location is the Old Bookshop, one of the most high profile walls in the area. A Yorkshire native, Hazard has become popular in the city with a thriving commission trade. This piece however was something for herself and she chose to experiment with the form and colour use that she has been developing.
Inkie – Petrie Glazers, North Street – instagram
Bristol local and Upfest regular Inkie already has a number of pieces across nearby streets. He is synonymous with the local street art and graffiti scene. His graffiti nouveau technique being instantly recognisable. The mural overlooking North Street is a homage to his home town of Bristol and the ASK crew which is Bristol based and which he is a member of.
Ipheno – George Carr Fence, North Street – instagram
Ipheno’s unique style is created by weaving fabric onto a metallic fence. A technique that she has developed, her portraits are inspired through expressions and feelings. Her muse in Bristol is a local woman from Cyprus. No one particularly famous but someone whose facial expression and hair braid was enough to inspire.
Karl Read – Avon Food & Wine, North Street – instagram
No surprises as to the inspiration behind Karl Read’s latest mural. Called ‘Hero’ it shows the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy opening his shirt to reveal a blue and yellow superman logo.
Kosc – 74 North Street – instagram
Kosc’s work on North Street combines his calligraphy which the images of what appear to be Roman emperors.
The Penguin Girl aka Mary Ann Loo – 131 North Street – instagram
Also known as the Penguin Girl. Mary Ann Loo has created a delightful mural on the boards of an old shop front. Called the ‘Bedminster Dream Tree’ her piece is a homage to Upfest and Bedminster featuring a lot of penguins and some familiar Bristolian sights.
Nol – People Solutions and 237 North Street – instagram
A couple of Dutch artist Nol’s characters greet people as they walk up North street. Both are one of a number of cartoons he has painted around the streets of the area.
Philth Blake – Ebenezer Pocket Park, North Street – instagram
“Mycelium Girl” from Philth is the latest piece to overlook the tranquil Ebenezer Pocket Park. A regular in the past at Upfest this has been the first mural of the season for the prolific artist.
RTiiiKA – Sweven Coffee – instagram
Feeling free to dress and love the way you like. This is what RTiiKA’s pieces on the side of Sweven Coffee is all about. It shows some carefree characters just doing their thing.
Rosk – George Carr, North Street – instagram
Sicilian artist Giulio Rosk is known for his hyper realistic caricature paintings. His work on the wall of George Carr Yard shows a man with a pen writing his graffiti tag ‘Rosk’.
Sophi Odling – KASK, North Street – Instagram
On the top of KASK on North Street Australian artist Sophi Odling has created one of her colourful and vivid dreamscapes. Her work reflects the environment and the culture of those she encounters. According to her website she travels the world “seeing the people, streets and way of life”. Her work “aims to encourage borderless thinking within our current global climate. Celebrate the acceptance of cultural diversity and focus on the beautiful innocence of youth”.
SPzero76 – Beaver Electrical, North Street – instagram
A wall that has become synonymous with the artwork of Bristol illustrator and street artist SPzero76. This is the third year in a row that he has painted this same wall. All with scenes developed as part of his developing comic book series ‘After the Robot Apocalypse’.
Venessa Scott (Vee) – Mytle Street – instagram
Returning for Upfest 2022 is Venessa Scott. Her mural on Mytle Street is just hidden away behind North Street and shows a lily pond filled with colour.
Victoriano – Petrie Glazers, North Street – instagram
Called “Free the Galgo” this piece is an incredible ten paintings in one on the same wall. Featuring a Spanish greyhound the piece is meant to be seen through augmented reality via the Artvive augmented reality app. Then, it all starts to make sense and the mural comes alive and you can see the greyhound run. Galgo by the way is Spanish for greyhound.
North Street West
The other side of North street is to the West. It runs from the Upfest Gallery to the Tobacco Factory. Here there is so much to see. On the Upfest Gallery itself sits a terrace emblazoned by the Six Sisters murals which is worth a visit at any time. Further along the street is the Malago and Hen & Chicken pubs, always a good location for street art. The road is littered with pieces across almost every street leading off from North Street.
Aches – Royston Garden News, North Street – instagram
Bringing his hyper realistic multi coloured and layered style to Upfest is Irish artist Aches. Based on the portrait of a friend of his, he just happened to be wearing a Shelbourne FC jersey. “I shot him but I was happy with how the patterns of the jersey interacted with each other, so I decided to paint is” Aches told me. The mural also has a dedicated to Aches Auntie Leone who sadly passed away whilst he was working on the wall.
Andy Council – Opposite the Malago, North Street – instagram
Known for his architecturally inspired animals, Bristol based Andy’s work is a regular sight in the area. A regular at Upfest, this year his work has incorporated the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge in the tail of a Stegosaurus .
Anthore – Storysmith Books, North Street – instagram
Tattooist and muralist from LA Ian Roberston Salt aka Anthroe has painted on the side of Storysmith Books. The piece is a mixture of figurative and abstract elements. A woman laying back looks up whilst holding a bunch of flowers and seemingly conducting something.
Apparan & Jelly – Tin Can Coffee, North Street – instagram
London based artists Apparan & Jelly are known for their works together. Both part of community collectives in their native Stoke Newington. Their piece at Upfest speaks in part to a kind of togetherness especially amongst women.
David J McMillan – Lime Street – instagram
Known for his cycling based street art, David J McMillan’s colourful mural is a homage to that. “I just really love cycling and really fell in love with it when I moved to Bristol 12 years ago” he told Inspiring City. “I guess it’s a little partly inspired by my partner’s bike roads around the city, especially in the last couple of years”.
Felix Braun – Natwest, North Street – instagram
‘Present Tense’ is the name of the colourful mural created by Felix Braun. It contains a number of abstract animals and people seemingly running towards a shared destination.
Gretl – The Malago, North Street / Greville Street – instagram
Returning to Upfest is French artist Gretl. Her work mixes elements of nature together and will and will often mix imagery from bird, animal and plant life. Interweaving them all in a symbolic representation of the interconnectedness of nature.
Kashink – 74 Exeter Road – instagram
Visiting Bristol for the first time since the See No Evil festival 10 years ago. Kashink’s colourful mural is a kind of outpouring of joy. “It was the first time, I was painting abroad since the pandemic” she told Inspiring City. “I used to travel a lot before and it’s so nice to do it again, it brings me a lot of joy”. Her mural reflects this feeling as whilst painting it Kashink was reflecting on those shared pandemic experiences. “I wrote a text that is a positive message because the past years brought a lot of anxiety to us all”.
The piece also has a little easter egg. Not quite visible from the street you can only see it if you go into the nearby alley. Wanting the viewer to “take the time to read something that would help focus on something positive”. Creating what Kashink describes as a “kind of suspended moment, an interactive painting”.
Kid Crayon – Hen & Chicken, North Street / Greville Street – instagram
Local artist Kid Crayon’s piece on Greville Street combines his lettering with character based artist. His name ‘Crayon’ is written in blue and pink whilst a women looks on. She appears to have a crayon coming out of her mouth.
Miller – North Street – instagram
Called ‘Finkicream’ this piece is about the thoughts that people have. It shows a central character painted by Tom Miller with imagination coming out of their eyes. Other characters surround the piece all interwoven with ideas and new thoughts.
My Dog Sighs – Parsons Bakery, North Street – instagram
A series of My Dog Sighs quiet little have been painted on the side of Parson Bakery. This artist had to complete his wall early due to having to head to Sacramento to paint in the Wide Open Walls Festival. A regular at Upfest, My Dog Sighs has painted a number of times in the area.
SNUB – Hen & Chicken, North Street / Greville Road – instagram
A continuation of SNUB’s piece created last year part of Upfests 75 walls in 75 days event. That piece showed a masked man in a hurray running down a tube tunnel. This piece, created on a hard to reach spot on the Hen & Chicken pub, also shows movement. This time though the character is stationery and almost incidental to the world rushing behind him. Painting with his partner and fellow artist Sprite, SNUB told me how they almost got lost in the background layer.
For years SNUB has centered his work around comics and in particular from 2000AD. Mongrol, one of the ABC Warriors from that comic, in particular has inspired him. This to the point that drawing the character has in part become synonymous to who he is. In many ways he says the robot has become his best friend and in others he has become him. The armour that he wears, representing the armour that SNUB as an artist also puts on. Explaining that for him this is a reflective piece. His relationship with Sprite causing him to look at the world differently. More reflective of time and the need to evolve and challenge himself in his own work. Just as his robot has evolved. “The future’s coming fast” he tells me, “everything is speeding up”.
Tea One – Hen & Chicken, North Street / Greville Road – instagram
Combining elements from classical painting and graffiti, Tea One is known for his paintings inspired by transport and industry. Each piece will tell a story and his work in Bristol for Upfest 2022 is no different. Inspired by the Giro D’Italia, it is a bike race in Italy. Cars here are in the service of bicycles says Tea One. The painting shows the Ammiraglia or the Flagship vehicle. It is at kilometre zero of that days racing on a Neapolitan street and carrying the leaders bicycle on its roof.
In the background a backstreet kitchen and racing journeys hang from balconies. the choice of Napoli as a location hints to a strong significance in Tea One’s own family. The pink colours referring to the ‘Maglia Rosa’ or ‘the race for pink’. It is the colour of the leaders jersey in the race. An iconic colour in Italy and one that is intrinsically linked to the national tour.
Will Cross – McColls, North Street – instagram
A painting of a traditional scene of home from Bulgarian resident Will Cross. The woman in the picture is wearing Bulgarian clothes and a head-dress whilst standing in a field of flowers.
Zabou – Hen & Chicken, Greville Street – instagram
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.
Stanley Street
The Acta Community Theatre on Stanley Street is one of those slightly hidden locations from the beaten track. That said it’s a spot well worth taking the detour to which isn’t even that much of an extra journey.
Daniela de Castro Sucre – Acta Community Theatre, Stanley Street – instagram
A young girl doodles whilst next to her there is a amalgamation of what appears to be letters and shapes. This is a unique wall and what we are actually seeing is a sterogram or ‘magic eye’. The kind of thing that was popular in the 90’s. If you view it correctly then a 3D message pops up. “To my knowledge, this is the first hand painted stereogram on a large mural” Daniela told Inspiring City. “It was challenging to paint, but very rewarding to see the audience trying to see the message. I also painted a QR code on the wall with viewing instructions”
The inspiration behind the piece was planted many years ago by her dad and “I’ve been working on it ever since”. Explaining that the concept is about the value or time and effort. Viewing the mural isn’t less about ability and more about time and patience. “Our society has come to value immediacy so much that we have lost some of our ability to be patient and learn more about what’s in front of us”.
“My mural is an interactive piece where the audience completes the image. There is a reward when you spend a bit of time and effort playing the game. I hope to encourage the viewer to try to not only play the game, but see the world through a child’s eyes for a short bit”.
Dead Beat Hero aka Rob Perez – Stanley Street – instagram
A wall full of cartoon colour from Dead Beat Hero. A bigger wall than the artist had originally thought. He managed to engage local kids who helped him to choose what animals to include on it. “It was really sweet to see their reaction after the wall was finished” he said on his instagram.
The Nursery
An unusually name road leading from the Upfest Gallery on North Street to Pearl Street. The Nursery is a residential street that nonetheless manages to attract some impressive street art on the facades of some of the houses.
Alessio ‘Bolo’ Bolognesi – instagram
Italian artist from Ferrara, Bolo has gone bold with his bright orange background providing the frame for his painting of Oreste the Raccoon. The character is shown with spray paint in his belt and a roller at the ready.
Ansley Randell – 70 The Nursery – instagram
Floridian artist Ansley Randell is known for her vibrant patterns and bright colours. She is inspired by mid century design, colours and fabrics. “I wanted to created a mural, a colourful mural with funky mid century shapes and colours” she told me. “I love the UK and have learned much history of the 60s and 70s from England, I wanted to reflect that in this piece”.
Tobacco Factory
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.
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”.
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.
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.
No Title – Souk Kitchen, Raleigh Road – instagram
Drawing inspiration from the natural world around him Danish artist No Title’s work is what he describes as a “dreamlike visualisation of a certain state of mind”. Combining a number of elements together he has created an unreal scene that he says is “simultaneously above and below the water between wakefulness and sleep”. There’s much to see, packed in the piece are naked trees, branching structures, ornamental waveforms, stars and two jellyfish hovering amongst the treetops. “To me it represents the way that thoughts can sometimes roam free” he tells me. “Having their own agency and acting independently of one’s own conscious mind”.
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.
Sophie Mess – Tobacco Factory, North Street – instagram
Painting the giant Tobacco Factory wall is Sophie Mess. It’s possibly the most iconic wall in Upfest and certainly it is the largest. Her work connects words with botanical inspiration. Her piece in Bristol is dominated by the word ‘Wonder’ interweaved against a selection of purple Irises. “At the very basis my work is to spark a reminder or appreciation for how wonderful our natural world is” Sophie told me about her work. “But also this piece is about ‘wonder’ and really that’s whatever that could mean to the viewer on a personal level. For me it’s all about the wonder in all of us, and it’s a big colour reminder for anyone who may be struggling to remember or see that you are so full of wonder 💜”.
Squirl – The Pony, North Street – instagram
“Love the Shadow Under the Clowds”. Squirl’s abstract country scene is part of his ‘Forest Friends’s series. It can be found on the side of the Pony on the corner of St Francis Street and North Street. The idea is to bring some countryside vibrancy into the city. Another piece by Squirl can also be seen on a nearby street called ‘The Nursery’.
West Street
Enclosing the Upfest area to the south is actually West Street which is also known as the A38. It runs from East Street to just before Parson Green Station. Street art has been steadily appearing along its route over the years. This year for Upfest 2022 there is a good smattering of new murals.
Dan Kitchener -239 West Street – instagram
‘Akihabara Nights’ a mural with a whole series of nods to Japanese culture. Dan himself describes this one as being super complicated but then Upfest is close to his heart. “I love love love painting in Bristol” he says on his instagram. “I’ve been lucky to have painted here every year since the start of Upfest. This was a super complex mural and even I am shocked I managed it in 2.5 days”.
Davide DPA – West Street Side – instagram
Mixing portraiture with calligraphy, Italian artist Davide’s work combines imagery together. His piece on West Street is based on a portrait of his friend Rita Masillo.
Emic – Bowdens Locksmiths, West Street – instagram
Making his first visit to Bristol, Irish artist Emic’s piece is one that celebrates the culture of the city. Initially looking for connections between Bristol and his native Ireland it was a path that led him to read up on the work of Oscar Wilde. His teaching on aesthetics in particular appealed as so the piece created for Upfest 2022 brings together a number of techniques. “I decided to combine some of the different aesthetics I have played with throughout my artistic practice, including abstraction, figurative, retro 3D and minimalism” he told Inspiring City. Wanting to create something unique for a first visit to a city which, despite never having visited, has inspired him through it’s rich history of art and music. The person shown in the mural is therefore a representative of all that. Not anyone in particular but a collective representation of the city as a whole.
Farrah Fortnum – South Road Garage, South Road – instagram
‘Delay is Death’ is the message from Farrah Fortnum’s latest wall for Upfest 2022. Her colourful patterning represents the swirling patterns and colours of nature. The message is very much one of urgency over the climate crisis which is a theme she comes back to time and again in her work. “My message isn’t positive and it isn’t supposed to be” she says on her instagram. “If you’re offended by my dark and upsetting words, which is temporary. Then think of all the real life beauty and life on this planet being destroyed to extinction”.
Goin – Dear Old Thing, West Street – instagram
Called the Love Fighter, Goin’s mural shows an image of a what once might have been a child soldier. However instead of military insignia on the beret, a heart takes it’s place whilst the child holds another larger heart tight. “Every child fights for love” Goin explains on his instagram. “The problem is to keep believing in love when we become adult”.
Nol – Bowdens Locksmiths, West Street – instagram
Dutch artist Nol is known for his fun characters. He’s been painting them all over upfest. Each one of the characters below can also be found on a different wall in the area.
Rosie Woods – 3 West Street Upper – instagram
Vivid and ethereal, Rosie Woods mural is a mix of entwined and interflowing forms. According to her website they “evoke the fluid nature of our human experience”. Originally from London but now living in Australia her work in Bristol really shows the fluidity that defines her work.
Sian Storey – The Pantile, off West Street – instagram
An oasis in the city from Basingstoke artist Sian Storey. Her hummingbirds floating against a backdrop of flowers on the side of the Pantile just off from West Street.
Winterstoke Road
Always a hugely popular location but possibly the most out of the way. The Redpoint Climbing Centre attracts some of the biggest murals as part of any event. It’s walls some of the largest around. For Upfest 2022, the London based French artist Epod has painted here.
Epod 3000 – Redpoint Climbing Centre, Winterstoke Road – instagram
Always a fantastic location to paint with some of the biggest walls in the area. Epod painted last year as part of the 75 walls project and this year went over Zabou’s portrait of Slim Safont. now back for Upfest 2022 he has created a giant artwork featuring two metallic dancers. Referencing the style of the piece Epod said “go big or go chrome”.
Upfest culminated in the weekend of 28 and 29 May 2022 with murals created over the month of May. Inspiring City visited the festival on 22, 28 and 29 May 2022.
For other Upfest inspired articles you might like, take a look at….
- 75 Walls painted in 75 Days
- Insane51 paints Giant Mural on Tobacco Factory
- Six Sisters Mural on North Street in Bristol
- Murals of the 2019 Summer Editions
- My Dog Sighs and Curtis Hylton create Giant mural on Windmill Hill
- Upfest 2018 the Best of the Street Art Boards
- The Artists of Upfest Europe’s Leading Street Art Festival
- Top 25 Murals from the 2018 Upfest Festival
- Caro Pepe the Argentine Artist Painting at Upfest
- The Best Street Art from Upfest 2017 in Bristol
- Where to Find Street Art in Bristol
4 Comments