They’re Escaping the Wall! (9 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From giraffes nibbling balconies to goldfish swimming through walls, this collection explores some of the most eye-catching animal murals that feel like they’re stepping into the real world. These illusionistic masterpieces span continents and styles—from hyperrealism and 3D trickery to sculpture-like street art using trash. Featured works include contributions from artists like Martín Ron, BORDALO II, Odeith, SWOONKITA, and more. The pieces are not only technically brilliant, but many are placed in unexpected locations—from high-rise walls to old silos and abandoned buildings.
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
Let’s dive into a visual tour of nature breaking into our cities:
3D Goldfish by Sweo & Nikita in Calais, France
A vibrant orange goldfish appears to be swimming out of a building, weaving between turquoise geometric shapes. The realistic lighting and shadows, combined with bold perspective, create a jaw-dropping 3D effect.
🔗 Follow Sweo on Instagram
🔗 Follow Nikita on Instagram
Giraffe Mural by Jan Is De Man in Utrecht, Netherlands
A giraffe stretches up several stories to nibble ivy from a balcony, seamlessly blending into the architecture. Painted on a realistic forest backdrop, the mural adds humor and depth to the urban block. More by Jan Is De Man!: 8 Happy 3D Artworks That Will Make You Smile
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Platypus Mural by Jimmy Dvate in Rochester, Australia
A photorealistic close-up of a platypus covers a large silo, reflecting in rippling water. The painterly rendering and extreme detail highlight the animal’s wet fur and glossy beak.
🔗 Follow Jimmy Dvate on Instagram
“Half Chimp” by BORDALO II in Lisbon, Portugal
Made entirely from trash and discarded materials, this sculpture-style mural of a chimpanzee is layered with painted accents. Its expressive face and outstretched arms cling to a peach-colored building. More by BORDALO II!: 22 photos – A Collection of Street Art by Bordalo II
🔗 Follow BORDALO II on Instagram
3D Bee Mural by Odeith in Portugal
This massive bee looks like it’s landing right on the artist’s hand. Painted with Odeith’s signature shadowing techniques, it appears to float above the surface inside a decaying industrial space. More by Odeith!: Odeith’s Amazing 3D Art in Abandoned Spaces
Oryx Mural by Martín Ron in Doha, Qatar
An oryx, the national animal of Qatar, appears to walk through a torn wall into a cityscape. The illusion of depth and city lights behind it enhances the 3D effect. More!: 9 Martín Ron Murals That Redefine Urban Art
🔗 Follow Martín Ron on Instagram
Sleeping Kitten by WA in Lima, Peru
Curled around a corner pillar, this fluffy black-and-white kitten sleeps peacefully, perfectly blending into the shadows of its surrounding environment.
Giant Cat Mural by SWIFTMANTIS in Papaioea, New Zealand
This photorealistic tabby cat gazes into the distance from a wall several stories high. Light bounces off its fur, giving the feline an almost lifelike presence. More cats!: 45 Purrfect Street Art Pieces: A Tribute to Our Cats
🔗 Follow SWIFTMANTIS on Instagram
Whether painted with a brush or assembled with trash, these animals bring personality, movement, and wild imagination to walls across the globe. Each mural is a reminder of how public art can surprise and delight when you least expect it—especially when it seems to leap right off the surface.
More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
Which one is your favorite?
11 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
Some artworks don’t just sit in nature—they become part of it. Around the world, artists are crafting sculptures and murals that seamlessly merge with their surroundings, using trees, vines, and landscapes as living elements of their work. These 11 pieces don’t fight against nature; they grow with it.
From giant figures emerging from forests to street art that transforms urban greenery into playful illusions, these eight stunning creations prove that art and nature can exist in perfect harmony.More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
1. “Sleeping Child” by El Decertor (Imbabura, Ecuador)
A mural by El Decertor in Imbabura, Ecuador, depicting a young child sleeping against a concrete wall, with creeping ivy blending into the painting as a natural blanket.
2. “UMI” by Daniel Popper (Illinois, USA)
“UMI” by Daniel Popper at the outdoor tree museum The Morton Arboretum in Illinois, USA—an intricate wooden sculpture of a woman with tree roots weaving through her body, set in a green landscape.About and more photos: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
3. Street Art by David Zinn (Ann Arbor, USA)
A street art piece by David Zinn in Ann Arbor, USA, featuring a small green character with a real grass mustache blending into the pavement.More!: Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
4. Flower Street Art by Fabio Gomes Trindade (Goiás, Brazil)
A mural by Fabio Gomes Trindade in Goiás, Brazil, featuring a girl’s face with a real tree forming her vibrant pink afro hairstyle.More by Fabio Gomes: How Fábio Gomes Turns Trees into Hair: Stunning Murals in Trindade
5. Sidewalk Flower Experiment
A beautiful example of accidental nature-inspired art—kindergarten children dropped seeds into sidewalk cracks, leading to a spontaneous floral pathway.More photos and about: Kindergarten children dropped seeds in the crack of the sidewalk to see what would happen
6. “Nature Rings” by Spencer Byles (Deep Forest, France)
A series of woven circular sculptures by Spencer Byles made from natural branches, blending seamlessly with the surrounding forest.
7. Willow Archer by Anna & The Willow (UK)
A woven willow sculpture of a female archer by Anna & The Willow, set against a wooded path.
8. Wire Mermaid by Martin Debenham (UK)
A wire sculpture by Martin Debenham of a mermaid sitting on a rock, with the intricate metalwork mimicking flowing water.
9. Snake in the Green — Hyères, France
A plain gray cinderblock wall in a hidden grove was completely transformed into a lifelike snake by street artist Rest4. The viper, rendered in vibrant greens, blues, and yellows, emerges from the shadows of the forest floor. The before-and-after framing reveals the power of imagination to awaken forgotten spaces.
10. Fluentem Colos — Little Milford, Wales
Land artist Jon Foreman created this delicate, wave-like gradient in a woodland clearing using carefully arranged leaves. Starting in green and fading to deep orange, the sculpture blends with the forest floor in color, shape, and motion—appearing to ripple like wind through grass. More by Jon Foreman: 9 Leaf Sculptures That Stir the Soul in the Forest (Art by Jon Foreman)
11. Florinda Camila — “WA” Marko Franco Domenak in Lima, Peru
This creative mural cleverly incorporates a real bougainvillea bush as the hair of a painted woman. A monarch butterfly completes the peaceful scene, adding movement to this blend of paint and nature.🔗 Follow WA on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
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