Pure Joy (10 Photos)
Content warning: Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that spark the most happiness. Whether it’s a clever piece of art hidden in an alleyway, a brilliant transformation of a boring brick wall, or a spontaneous moment in a public park, these 10 photos capture the es
Sometimes the simplest things are the ones that spark the most happiness. Whether it’s a clever piece of art hidden in an alleyway, a brilliant transformation of a boring brick wall, or a spontaneous moment in a public park, these 10 photos capture the essence of what it means to find light in the everyday.
We’ve collected these street artworks to show that joy isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can stumble upon around any street corner if you’re looking closely enough.
More!: The Most Spectacular Murals You Ever Seen (10 Photos)
1. “Le Mur des Canuts” (Wall of the Silk Weavers) — Lyon, France
This before-and-after shot shows the true power of a “CitéCréation” mural. A massive, windowless gray wall was transformed into a vibrant neighborhood scene complete with balconies, plants, and a winding staircase, proving that art can completely change the heartbeat of a city.
More photos and about the mural here!
2. The Trombone Player by Tom Bob in New York, USA
Tom Bob is a master of seeing the potential in industrial eyesores. By painting a character on a utility box and using a series of yellow pipes as a giant trombone, he turns a dull school exterior into a musical performance. More photos here!
More by Tom Bob!: 33 Artworks by Creative Genius Tom Bob (That Will Make You Smile)
🔗 Follow Tom Bob on Instagram
3. Secret Garden Pool by Joe and Max in Gloucester
This incredible 3D floor mural creates the illusion of a grand, sunken Roman bath right in the middle of a modern shopping street. Watching people “balance” on the edge or stare into the depths of the crystal-clear painted water is a testament to the interactive power of street art.
More!: 9 Mind-Blowing 3D Street Art by Joe and Max
🔗 Follow Joe & Max on Instagram
4. Spyglass by 3Steps in Wetzlar, Germany
By painting a giant pair of hands and eyes around two tunnel entrances, 3Steps turned a mundane pedestrian underpass into a pair of binoculars. It’s a brilliant way to make a simple walk feel like an adventurous look through a spyglass.
🔗 Follow 3Steps on Instagram
5. Natural Frame by Collettivo FX at the Pizzo Sella Art Village in Palermo
In this clever indoor mural, a pair of giant hands holds a “camera” around a balcony doorway. The broken glass and the mountain view beyond become the perfect frame, turning a derelict room into a living photograph of the great outdoors.
🔗 Follow Collettivo FX on Instagram
6. “Cannot” by Biancoshock in Lodi, Italy
Biancoshock transformed these massive, discarded concrete pipes into a giant, broken photography camera. By painting the lenses and adding a “viewfinder” on top, the artist turns heavy industrial waste into a clever commentary on our obsession with capturing every moment, even when the “equipment” is clearly fractured. More photos here!
🔗 Follow Biancoshock on Instagram
7. Dream of Freedom by Juandres Vera in Boulogne-Sur-Mer, France
Juandres Vera creates a stunning 3D effect where a girl appears to be sitting in a carved-out niche of a building, accompanied by a puffin. The artwork uses the building’s actual shape to give the character a sense of depth and life that is simply mesmerizing. More photos and about the mural here!
🔗 Follow Juandres Vera on Instagram
8. A Giant Rooster by Odeith
Odeith takes an abandoned, gray concrete corner and turns it into a vibrant farmyard scene. The level of detail on the feathers and the way the rooster seems to stand out from the walls makes this transformation a true urban masterpiece. More by Odeith!: 3D Art By Odeith (20 Photos)
🔗 Follow Odeith on Instagram
9. Space and Time by Eduardo Relero in Bochum, Germany
Eduardo Relero turns a flat sidewalk into a surreal bedroom. The distorted perspective makes it look as though a man is lounging on a giant mattress made of clocks and blankets, inviting everyone to step into a dream world right on the pavement. More by Eduardo Relero!: Street Art by Eduardo Relero – A Collection
🔗 Follow Eduardo Relero on Instagram
10. Balloon Fish by Bordalo II in Trafaria, Portugal
Bordalo II is famous for his “Trash Animals,” and this pufferfish is a vibrant example. Built from recycled plastic, old tires, and urban waste, this 3D sculpture turns the city’s discarded items into a colorful creature full of life and character. More!: 22 photos – A Collection of Street Art by Bordalo II
🔗 Follow BORDALO II on Instagram
More!: Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
The Most Spectacular Murals You Ever Seen (10 Photos)
From illusions that make you fall down rabbit holes to majestic scenes from another century, this collection dives into a world where walls become windows into entirely different realities. In this photo journey, you’ll find Eduardo Relero’s fantastical chalk worlds, historic balconies painted by Carles Arola in Spain, Kurt Wenner’s London underground surprise, and a hotel facade in Poland that doesn’t actually exist. These aren’t just murals—they’re portals, stories, and tricks of the eye scattered across public spaces in Europe and the U.S.
More 3D: 14 Street Art 3D Masterpieces You Won’t Believe Are Real
1. Mural by WALLART in Łódź, Poland
Artist: WALLART | Location: Łódź, PolandThis trompe-l’oeil mural creates the illusion of a lavish hotel interior, complete with a gold-trimmed ceiling, chandelier, elegant staircase, and sharply dressed guests. The play with architectural depth and lighting tricks viewers into believing the wall has been peeled open to reveal another world inside. More photos here!
2. “The Belgian Underground” by Kurt Wenner
Artist: Kurt Wenner | Location: Brussels, BelgiumPainted directly on the pavement, this 3D chalk artwork brings a warped version of London’s Underground to life. Alice descends into a distorted Piccadilly Circus, encountering the White Rabbit and a dreamlike crowd. The illusion bends space as if the sidewalk drops into an alternate universe.
3. Mural by Carles Arola
Artist: Carles Arola | Location: Calonge, SpainThis large-scale mural turns a flat facade into a detailed village scene with balconies, townspeople, a white horse, and even wine barrels in an open cellar. Every element is rendered to match the stone wall texture, blending history and realism into the environment. More photos here!
🔗 Follow Carles Arola on Facebook
4. Mural by Patrick Commecy
Artist: Patrick Commecy | Location: Montpellier, FranceThis before-and-after transformation shows a blank wall turned into a lifelike apartment block complete with balconies, dogs, and residents interacting. Commecy’s signature style uses vivid colors and careful perspective to mimic real-life structures. More photos here! This mural, visible on Google Maps.
🔗 Visit Patrick Commecy’s Website
5. “Space and Time” by Eduardo Relero
Artist: Eduardo Relero | Location: Bochum, GermanyEduardo Relero’s 3D illusion on a public square turns the sidewalk into a rumpled bed occupied by eccentric characters. A man even lies on it, perfectly aligned with the painted figures. Relero’s theatrical use of foreshortening and humor is on full display here.
🔗 Follow Eduardo Relero on Instagram
6. Mural by John Pugh
Artist: John Pugh | Location: Hermosa Beach, California, USAThis mural creates the illusion of a massive chunk of building peeled away to reveal a sunny beach scene. People sunbathe on towels while a historic hotel rises behind them. Painted shadows and curved edges give it a sculptural effect. More photos here!
🔗 Follow John Pugh on Instagram
7. Mural by Eduardo Relero
Artist: Eduardo Relero | Location: Fiuggi, ItaliaThis small but powerful mural shows a man sipping coffee from a window, so lifelike that a passerby holds up his own cup in greeting. With painterly texture and perspective, the piece bridges reality and illusion in an intimate alley setting.
🔗 Follow Eduardo Relero on Instagram
8. Mural in Lyon, France (Before & After)
Artist Collective: CitéCréation | Location: Lyon, FranceAn iconic example of urban transformation, this enormous facade was painted to replicate surrounding architecture and urban life. The stairs, balconies, windows, and climbing greenery blend perfectly with reality, making the original blank wall disappear entirely. More photos here!
9. Mural by Arleta Kolasińska in Śródka, Poznań
Artist: Arleta Kolasińska | Location: Śródka, Poznań, PolandThis dramatic before-and-after mural makeover transformed a plain white wall into a vivid streetscape filled with colorful facades and playful architectural illusions. The piece features false windows, fake depth, and characters painted into daily life scenes—including one man “climbing” a wall. Commissioned for Café La Ruina, the mural enlivens the historic district and honors local heritage.
More photos and about!: Poland’s Stunning Mural: A Masterpiece in Poznań’s Historic Środka District
10. Mural by Carl Leck in Indianapolis, Indiana
Artist: Carl Leck | Location: Indianapolis, Indiana, USAThis 3D-mural shows a suspended glass soda bottle hanging from a beam, complete with realistic lighting and a cast shadow of a bottle cap. The illusion tricks the eye by blending painted shadows and reflections with the building’s architecture. Created for NINE dot ARTS!
🔗 Follow Carl Leck on Instagram
More: Master of Illusion!: 19 Jaw-Dropping 3D Graffiti Pieces by Odeith
Which one is your favorite?
