The artwork titled “No Great Crime” was created by the artist known as “3D” in 1983. It is a piece of street art within the graffiti genre and signifies an important work within this movement. The piece helped establish 3D as a significant figure in the street art scene in Bristol, as it reportedly garnered the artist noticeable amounts of work. This vibrant graffiti was made outside the Tropic Club with permission from the manager, demonstrating the occasionally collaborative nature of street art with local businesses.
The artwork itself displays a bold, colorful array of letters and elements typical of graffiti art of the time. Large, stylized letters spell out “NO GREAT CRIME” in a dynamic, interlocking fashion. The lettering is executed in a mix of colors, primarily orange, blue, and yellow, popping out against a dark shaded background that contributes to the words’ visual impact. There are additional tags and designs around the main text, a common trait in graffiti works where multiple artists or the same artist adds layers and details to create a complex composition.
There are people standing in front of the mural. To the right, a person is leaning against the wall with legs crossed, seemingly observing the art or perhaps just taking a casual break. On the left, another individual is walking by, providing a sense of scale and everyday life continuing alongside the artwork. The presence of these people not only humanizes the urban art but also demonstrates the public and accessible nature of street art, part of the urban landscape and engaged with by passersby routinely.
