Upfest: Bristol street art event celebrates the city’s 650th anniversary

Bristol street artists will take over Queen’s Road and the Triangle this week and decorate windows throughout the area.

It’s all part of Renaissance Paint Jam, a street art event with a difference, which takes place from Thursday (July 20) to Sunday July 23.

The street artists will take inspiration from Bristol’s 650th anniversary for the outdoor art exhibition, which will demonstrate techniques and styles from the renaissance period, updated on a huge scale by 10 street artists.

The project is curated by the organisers of Bristol’s world famous street art festival Upfest, to celebrate the masters from the past as part of a year-long celebration of all things Bristol: who we are, where we come from, what we’ve done - and where we’re going.

The project is led by Bristol City Centre BID, working with levy payers throughout the area to bring art to the windows on one of Bristol’s most iconic areas.

Artists including 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 will take to the streets across four days to paint masterpieces of all shapes and sizes.

Visitors can watch the artists at work over the weekend but also enjoy a new outdoor exhibition in the summer months.

Vicky Lee, Head of Bristol City Centre BID, says: “The summer is an amazing time to be in Bristol City Centre and 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.

“While the retail units on these streets are under offer, 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.

“It will be great to see people turn out to support the artists as they create their pieces and the traders across the area as we head into the summer season.”

Bristol 650 marks 650 years since King Edward III granted important rights and privileges to Bristol by royal charter in 1373.

As a permanent installation to commemorate this milestone anniversary, artist Inkie will be spray painting a 650-word piece onto the Radisson Blu hotel. This will be a permanent legacy piece on Bristol’s historic Broad Quay.