You might have noticed that Bristol is in a celebratory mood this year. It’s been 650 years since King Edward made the city an independent county in 1373. So to celebrate, everything from UnicornFest to Luke Jerram’s latest art project Edible Histories is honouring the occasion. Now Bristol City Centre BID and Bristol’s world-famous street art festival Upfest are also getting involved with a Renaissance-inspired Paint Jam.
There might be no actual Upfest this year (more on that here), but that hasn’t stopped them from adding a splash of colour to Bristol this year. Starting this Thursday (July 20 – 23), this uniwue street art event will transform Queen’s Road and Clifton Triangle. As 10 local street artists decorate windows throughout the area – all taking inspiration from Bristol’s 650th anniversary.
Artists include street painting legend Inkie, Bedminster-based illustrator Will Cross, expert sign writer TOZER, colourful painter Georgie Webster, fine art inspired Andrew Burns Colwill, multi-medium creator Rose Popay, mural artist Martin D’Arcy and street art expressionist Cheba. This new outdoor art exhibition will demonstrate techniques and styles from the Renaissance period, updated on a huge scale.
Across four days of painting, these masterpieces of all shapes and sizes will ask and answer questions like who we are, where we come from, what we’ve done – and where we’re going. You’re invited to head down to Clifton and watch these masters at work over the weekend. But are also encouraged to enjoy the new outdoor exhibition across the coming summer months.
“We’re pleased to be able to bring Upfest to the streets to create some amazing artworks from blank canvases on Park Street, Queen’s Road and the Triangle,” said Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID. “We have a unique opportunity to create a large impact for visitors to this part of the city. This is a significant year for the city as we celebrate 650 years of independence and there’s nothing more synonymous with modern-day Bristol than street art.”
A permanent installation, commemorating Bristol’s 650-year anniversary, will also go up onto the Radisson Blu hotel. Inkie will be spray-painting a 650-word piece on Bristol’s historic Broad Quay. Providing a permanent legacy to Bristol’s independent spirit.