9 Breathtaking Artworks For Sea Lovers
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From majestic ships crashing through waves to powerful portraits of sailors and sea gods, these murals span cities and coasts to bring ocean legends to life. This curated collection includes works from France, Germany, Spain, Belgium, and beyond—each one a tribute to maritime culture, the mysteries of the deep, and the stories carried by the tide.
More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
Epic Poseidon Mural by Ster UPC in Southend-on-Sea, London, UK
A towering tribute to Poseidon, this vivid blue mural by Ster UPC features the god of the sea with a flowing beard, golden crown, and trident. The swirling waves and powerful gaze give the illusion of oceanic movement.
Life at Sea by DJOELS in Basque Country, Spain
In this grayscale mural, a weathered man with glasses builds a ship model while ghostly ships loom behind him. A tentacle curls beneath his hands, merging memory and maritime legend.
Wanderer by Innerfields in Cologne, Germany
Referencing Caspar David Friedrich’s famous painting, this mural shows a modern wanderer gazing at a capsized ship as a distant cathedral rises through the mist—blending romanticism and catastrophe.
More photos: Wanderer – By Innerfields in Cologne, Germany (5 photos)
Old Man and the Sea 2.0 by Creaero in Morlaix, France
A powerful monochrome portrait of an elderly sea captain, paired with a puffin and a storm-lashed lighthouse. The mural evokes life at sea, resilience, and solitude.
PHOENIX by Gert Neuhaus in Berlin, Germany
Painted in 1989, this monumental mural blends architecture and illusion, depicting a massive ship bow slicing through waves, crashing right through the building’s facade.
Shark by Blesea in Cherbourg, Normandy, France
In an abandoned structure, Blesea paints a 3D great white shark swimming through coral reefs. The artist sits above it with snorkel gear, merging art with play.
The Drunken Ship by Claire Daliers in Brussels, Belgium
A full-building mural of a sailing ship cutting through waves, perfectly integrated with the structure’s windows and walls—an iconic piece of trompe-l’œil art.
The Ocean Statue of Neptune in Gran Canaria, Spain
This haunting sculpture of Neptune emerging from the sea holds a trident and appears in multiple sea states. It evokes awe and reverence for ocean mythology.
Poseidon Mural by Braga Last One in Lisbon, Portugal
This mural shows Poseidon in decayed classical ruins, holding his trident and surrounded by graffiti, creating a fusion of mythology and urban decay. The first image shows the wall before it was painted, and the second shows the completed mural in its full glory.
The Eye by Näutil in Siouville-Hague, France
Painted on a WWII bunker, this eye-shaped mural gazes across the beach —turning a relic of war into a watchful guardian of the sea.
Octopus Mural by Tyler Toews in Vancouver, Canada
Painted for the Vancouver Mural Festival, this surreal piece shows a giant octopus grappling with a plastic bottle drifting through the ocean. Inside the bottle, a sailing ship is trapped—blurring the line between myth and environmental warning. The vibrant blues and dynamic composition stretch across the building’s surface, blending underwater perspective with striking realism.
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Sculptures That Blend With Nature (10 Photos)
Public art can make boring places feel special and exciting. It surprises us, gets us thinking, and helps us see the world in a new way. Some sculptures are made to fit perfectly into their surroundings, mixing art and nature in creative ways.
Here, you’ll see 9 amazing sculptures from around the world. These artworks turn simple ideas into something incredible. From a giant clothespin pinching the ground to a zipper opening a stream, these pieces show how art can be surprising and fun.More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
1. Clothespin Sculpture by Mehmet Ali Uysal in Belgium
In a peaceful park near Liège, Belgium, there’s a giant clothespin sculpture that looks like it’s pinching the ground. It was created by Turkish artist Mehmet Ali Uysal. This artwork turns a simple everyday object into something huge and fun to look at.
2. The Caring Hand by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber in Glarus, Switzerland
In Glarus, Switzerland, “The Caring Hand” by artists Eva Oertli and Beat Huber shows a giant stone hand rising from the ground, gently holding a tree. The sculpture blends perfectly with its surroundings, symbolizing care and the connection between people and nature.About and more photos: The Caring Hand – Sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland
3. Shuttlecocks by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen in Kansas City
On the lawn of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri, you’ll find giant badminton birdies scattered around. These sculptures, called “Shuttlecocks”, were created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen. They look like someone started a huge game of badminton and left the birdies behind. Each birdie is 18 feet tall and weighs over 5,000 pounds.
4. Window and Ladder by Leandro Erlich
There’s a strange sculpture by Leandro Erlich called “Window and Ladder – Too Late for Help.” It shows a tall white ladder leading to a brick wall with an open window, floating above a field.
5. Give by Lorenzo Quinn
“Give” by Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn. It shows two giant hands gently holding a growing tree, symbolizing care and responsibility for nature.More by Lorenzo Quinn: Support – Message About Climate Change
6. Giant Slingshot Bench by Artist Cornelia Konrads
In a scenic park, German artist Cornelia Konrads built a fun and creative sculpture called “Giant Slingshot Bench.” It’s a wooden bench that looks like it’s been launched into place by two giant tree branches shaped like a slingshot, complete with bright red straps.
7. Safety Pin Sculpture by Claes Oldenburg
At the de Young Museum in San Francisco, there’s a giant “Safety Pin” sculpture created by artist Claes Oldenburg. It turns an ordinary safety pin into something huge and exciting.
8. Zipper Sculpture by Yasuhiro Suzuki
In Tokyo, Japan, there’s a unique “Zipper” sculpture by artist Yasuhiro Suzuki. It looks like a giant zipper opening up the earth, showing a stream of water flowing underneath.
9. Hallow — Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois, USA
A monumental wooden sculpture of a woman gently opens her chest to reveal an empty space within. Surrounded by flowering trees, the piece conveys a sense of calm and introspection.More photos!: 5 Photos of Sculpture “Hallow” By Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
10. “Augere” — Jon Foreman in Druidston, Wales
Stone sculpture arranged in spirals on the sand. Built from natural rocks found nearby, the piece changes shape with the tide. More!: Amazing Sculptures by Jon Foreman! (12 Photos)More: 18 Pics Of Land Art Sculptures by Jon Foreman
Which one is your favorite?
