An AI mural in Bristol has been ripped from the side of a Bedminster pub after residents and artists criticised a series of errors in its depiction of the city’s landmarks.
The large vinyl poster had been installed at the Jolly Colliers, showing stylised versions of the SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Cabot Tower. Photographs later showed it had been removed from the building.
Among the apparent mistakes was an SS Great Britain resembling a riverboat, while the Clifton Suspension Bridge was shown with an incorrect one-way traffic system. The image also featured a large viaduct which does not exist.
The colourful houses shown beside the bridge were also misplaced. They are located in Cliftonwood, on the other side of the city, overlooking Bristol harbour.
The mural appeared to reference Banksy’s Mild Mild West, but replaced the artist’s well-known petrol-bomb-throwing teddy bear with a one-legged pointing figure.
Artists condemn Bristol AI mural
The installation prompted criticism from members of the Bristol Mural Collective, in a city known for its street art and its connection to Banksy.
Caroline Maggs, of the collective, said: “AI designs not only devalue but undermine the work of artists.”
She said the group was “saddened and angered” that the pub had not chosen to support handmade work, adding: “In a climate where humans are being replaced by AI at an alarming rate, choosing art like this is not only an aesthetic choice but a political one.”
Ms Maggs said leaving the wall blank would have been preferable, but added that the collective was open to discussions with the pub and would like to commission one of its artists to “rectify their mistake”.
An unsigned letter placed below the mural described its installation as “a disrespectful affront to this city”. It accused those responsible of damaging artists’ livelihoods, disrespecting their work and undermining Bristol’s creative identity.
Emily Tuffen, another BMC artist, called the mural a “slap in the face” to Bristol and said: “Brunel would be turning in his grave.”
Other artists criticised the image as “visually naff” and described it as “an appalling and tone-deaf display of absolute nonchalance and disregard to artists residing in Bristol and beyond”.
Pub owner says mural was temporary
A spokesperson for Punch, which owns the Jolly Colliers, said the mural had been a temporary measure because of the condition of the external wall.
“The external wall requires some minor works which would make a permanent mural at this time difficult, so we had opted for a temporary solution,” the spokesperson said.
They added that the company was looking forward to working with local artists and the community on a permanent mural in the future.
