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Morley’s Street Art (106 Photos)
Content warning: Street Artist Morley This is an interview with the Los Angeles (California, USA) based artist Morley and some of his street art. 1. When, how and why did you become an artist? The sort of cheesy but true answer is that I believe we’re all born artists but
Street Artist Morley
This is an interview with the Los Angeles (California, USA) based artist Morley and some of his street art.
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When, how and why did you become an artist?
The sort of cheesy but true answer is that I believe we’re all born artists but at some point we let the world convince us otherwise.
The more practical answer is that I’ve been passionate my whole life about telling stories and self expression and when I moved from Iowa (where I was raised) to New York as a film student to attend the School of Visual Arts, I was exposed to a whole range of different art forms that I hadn’t explored before, which was a huge inspiration.
New York is of course known for its street art and discovering an art form that didn’t require a ton of money or permission was alluring. I started making stickers at first and then it expanded from there.
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“We’re all just winging it. The good news is you’re feeling stuff, you know? And you’ve got to hold on to that. You get older, and you don’t feel as much, your skin gets tough.”
How do you see your role as an artist today?
I would say that my role as an artist is to offer the relief that comes in discovering that you are not alone in how you feel- the joys and the sadness, the triumph and the tragedy.
Knowing that another person shares in how you feel and can find words, visuals, sound, movements, (etc.) to capture it, explore it and come a little closer to understanding it is a kind of communion between us all.
It can also help us understand perspectives that we are not familiar with, and build empathy. These are pretty vital things in life and being part of that experience is all I’ve ever aspired to.
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How would you describe your working method?
I try to find something I think or feel that I’d like to see if I was leaving work after a long day or just trying to keep my chin up- and see if I can express it in as concise a way as possible.
The kind of message you can read if you’re driving past it at 25 miles per hour. If I can pack a big idea into only a few words I’ve succeeded. Then I use those words along a drawing of myself because I want them to be coming from another person- someone as unglamorous and real as they are.
I want to offer words from a friend, a comrade, someone who shares the trenches with them. Then I print these out and look for the best environments to paste them into.
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Can you name some contemporary works of art or projects that inspire you?
There’s a ton of great artists that I love but a few I’m particularly inspired by at the moment are the various public installations by Michael Pederson, the newest album by Lucy Dacus and the cartoons of Ross Bryant.
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5. How can artists be paid for their work and at the same time maintain a critical attitude towards the commercial art market and public funding partners?
I’m not sure I’d be able to answer for anyone but myself. I think the trick is to stay keenly aware of your personal convictions- what matters to you, what feels important- when you don’t have anyone trying to pay you for your work.
If money starts finding its way to you- keep your convictions close and try to only compromise if you’ve given real thought and consideration. To me, the only real way to sell out is if you abandon what matters to you. What that looks like can’t be defined by anyone but you.
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What would you like to change in the street art world?
The backbiting is a real drag. I wish we all supported each other in the scene more. I understand a bit of drama from time to time but it serves no purpose to spend your time fighting with another artist. I make art for people who aren’t familiar with the politics of the street art community and I wish more artists felt the same.
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In the best of times, we must count on those who love us to remind us who we are and where we come from.
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Like an old bike in the garage, take it out for a spin.
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Lego Morley is really proud of his latest wheat paste. At one point, he nearly fell from his ladder while putting it up! Luckily he’s pretty easy to put back together.
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“For a second I was almost jealous of the clouds. Why was he looking to them for an escape when I was right here beside him?” – Kamila Shamsi
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I get the feeling that there are a lot of deep cover optimistic operatives in this world of cynics. But maybe I’m just being optimistic.
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“Feet, what do I need you for when I have wings to fly?” – Frida Kahlo
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Some memories require a bigger hole.
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…and getting tangled with you was the best thing that ever happened to me.
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I saw the window behind this electrical box and thought this slogan was appropriate
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“What is tolerance? It is the consequence of humanity. We are all formed of frailty and error; let us pardon reciprocally each other’s folly – that is the first law of nature.” – Voltaire
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Living fast and dying young is like writing four chapters of a book and then saying “it’s done!” You’re only ensuring that everyone who reads it will feel cheated.
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“Ghosting” is one of the most infuriating social behaviors of my generation. The notion that simply not responding to someone is an acceptable way to communicate “no thanks” is absurd. C’mon people, we’re all better than that. Let’s respect each other enough to know that we can handle hearing “you seem like a great girl/guy but I don’t really feel a connection” or “hey, thanks for inviting me but I won’t be able to make it” or “sorry, we went in another direction” or even “sorry, I’d help you move but I just really don’t feel like it.” I feel like we all would rather hear NO than silence. Because silence is just NO without common courtesy. You’re not saving anyone the pain of rejection- you’re telling them they’re not even worthy of your rejection. That you would rather simply forget they even exist- which is much more cruel in my mind. Let’s all be big boys and girls and just be honest with people and simply say “no thanks.”
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The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades! …prescription shades because the future is also kinda blurry and I’m not sure if I’m headed in the right direction.
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Distance makes the heart grow crazy.
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I am constantly surprised by life. Good and bad. I’m not sure I’d have it any other way.
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Make the most of every moment. Collect them into jars with little holes in the lid like so many fireflies- and know that one day you will have to let them go.
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“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” – E. E. Cummings
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“Don’t forget in the darkness what you learned in the light.”- Joseph Bayly
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More: Joyful Street Art (35 Photos)
Which is your favorite?
Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
Chalk Artist David Zinn
David Zinn is a street artist known for transforming ordinary urban landscapes into imaginative worlds. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zinn has been creating street art since the 1980s. His medium of choice is chalk, which perfectly capturing the fleeting nature of street art.Zinn’s creations often feature playful creatures, such as his well-known character Sluggo—a green monster with endearing eyes—and a flying pig named Philomena. These characters are typically placed in unexpected settings, interacting with real-world objects in surprising ways that challenge viewers’ perceptions and bring joy to public spaces.
David Zinn’s work is characterized by its blend of whimsy, humor, and a masterful use of the urban canvas, making everyday scenes magical and inviting passersby to stop and ponder, or smile.
More by David Zinn: Cuteness overload! Chalk Art by David Zinn (6 photos)
Tragically or luckily, Ethan has lost count of his petals
Life lessons from augmented pareidolia the first yo is given, but the second yo is earned
Sibling Pep Talk
Jeremy’s First Lair
Nadine Listens to the Grapevine
Reading is Enflowering
Bernice is easily the most intimidating dodgeball player for her size
Chloe is 95% Burmese and 5% Fescue
Fly-by-night Impossibility
Fran’s summer hairstyle is 100% natural with very healthy roots
Lily can’t decide if she’s an understood overachiever or an overstood underachiever; either way, she’s making a lot of progress.
Looks like another long day of things stubbornly refusing to be impossible
Low altitude impossibilities at the Sideways Flying R
Marv learned this look from the puppy next door; he’s hoping your pocket is full of flies
Nadine and the Hydrophobic Frog
Nadine and the Silent Standoff
Philomena is a big fan of escapist literature
Philomena likes to start her days by watching for the second most impossible thing to happen
Rosie has an excellent sense of smell, which is why she always carries an olfactory support flower
Summer mood Angus will concede to flowers on his shirts and umbrellas in his drinks, but that’s where he draws the line
This message brought to you by the Underfoot Arts Council and a philanthropic hole in the ground
More!: Whimsical Wonders: 7 Enchanting Chalk Artworks by David Zinn
What do you think about the chalk art by David Zinn? Do you have a favorite?
Street Art by David Zinn
Online store and information hub for the street art of ephemeral sidewalk chalk artist David Zinn, known for his cheerful 3D (three-dimensional) creatures including the stalk-eyed monster Sluggo, flying pig Philomena, and adventurous mouse Nadine.street art by david zinn
Ross Bryant (@rossbb) • Instagram photos and videos
56K Followers, 1,140 Following, 1,870 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ross Bryant (@rossbb)instagram.com
Dream On (15 Photos You’ll Remember)
Content warning: From a soaring leap in Philadelphia to a fence turned into a hammock in Istanbul, this collection captures moments of imagination, emotion, and escape. You'll see a girl on a swing painted in Belsito, a boy playing guitar across the steps of a Houston und
From a soaring leap in Philadelphia to a fence turned into a hammock in Istanbul, this collection captures moments of imagination, emotion, and escape. You’ll see a girl on a swing painted in Belsito, a boy playing guitar across the steps of a Houston underpass, and a child stitching cracks in the pavement with care. Scroll through 15 artworks where artists turned walls, streets, and even border fences into visual dreams.
More: 8 Buildings That Look Like They’re From a Dream
1. A Swing in the Summer Light — Antonino Perrotta in Belsito, Italy
A large mural of a girl seen from behind, swinging out from a window frame toward the mountains. Her white dress flows mid-air as she soars past rooftops and a classic streetlamp.
About this: “A swing in the summer light” by ATTORREP in Belsito, Italy
2. Border Hammock — Murat Gök in Istanbul, Turkey
What was once a barbed fence now serves as a hammock. A man lounges in the middle, supported by fence posts bent inward, as if the border yielded to rest.
3. Guitar Player — Alex Maksiov in Houston, Texas, USA
A teen boy plays a white electric guitar on a large staircase. His open guitar case below adds to the illusion, turning the steps into a stage.
About this: Guitar Player by Alex Maksiov in Houston, Texas, USA
4. I Have a Dream — Bane & Pest in Chur, Switzerland
A girl wearing a blue headscarf rides on the back of a giant sparrow emerging from the pages of an open book. Stacks of books line the bottom of the wall.
More by Fabian Bane: Stunning Street Art Transforming Walls Around the World
5. Leap — Tatyana Fazlalizadeh in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
A woman in motion floats mid-jump on a tall brick wall, casting a strong shadow. Her outstretched arms and tilted head suggest joy or freedom.
About this: Mural by Tatyana Fazlalizadeh in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (6 photos)
6. Love — Alexander Milov at Burning Man, USA
Two large wireframe sculptures of adults sit back to back, while inner glowing children reach through to touch hands. Installed in the desert at night.
7. Girl Mending a Crack
In a black-and-white photo, a young girl uses Band-Aids to patch a crack in the pavement. Her concentration and placement mimic the act of healing.
8. When Street Art Meets Nature — El Decertor in Imbabura, Ecuador
A boy sleeps against a wall, half-covered by ivy that becomes his blanket. His teddy bear lies beside him as if the plants are tucking him in.
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Photo by Max Johnson
9. Peacekeeper — Chris Butcher in Southampton, UK
A young woman dressed like a futuristic pilot cradles a glass terrarium filled with mushrooms, plants, and a glowing blue butterfly. She wears a green helmet sprouting a mushroom and a peace badge on her sleeve.
🔗 Follow Chris Butcher on Instagram
Photo by Craig
10. Fire Within — Bacon in Glasgow, UK for Yardworks Festival 2025
A monumental portrait of a child glows with inner light, the face and body painted with molten textures that resemble fire beneath marble. A white flower near the ear radiates soft warmth, contrasting the powerful energy flowing through the hair.
11. Childhood Dreams — Andy J. Céspedes Fernández in Moyobamba, Peru
A girl rests her head gently on her arms surrounded by flowers, a sparrow, and a kite. On her right, a miniature version of herself flies the kite amid giant petals.
🔗 Follow Andy J. Céspedes on Instagram
12. DAYDREAMER — TABBY in Vienna, Austria
A stenciled mural of a girl in a red dress with heart patterns, sitting with her chin in her hands. She looks up thoughtfully, framed in black and white against a beige wall.
13. Lameroo Silo Art — Smug in Lameroo, Australia
On two towering silos, a girl holds a baby wrapped in white fabric. Behind them, a glowing orange-and-purple sunset fills the horizon with harvest fields below.
More by SMUG!: 24 Times SMUG Made Walls Look More Real Than Life
14. Dread Dream — WD (Wild Drawing) in Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
A boy painted in rainbow tones sleeps curled against an old building wall, blending into the architecture. The word “DREAM” is painted faintly beside him.
More by WD!: 3D Street Art by WD (7 Murals)
15. Le Hérisson” by Wen2 in Coudekerque-Branche, France
A comic-inspired mural showing a corner building named Au Hérisson, glowing with warm light. In front, a red Citroën 2CV stands beside two figures, while the cobblestone street corner appears to float in mid-air, adding a surreal effect.
More: Street Art Utopia: Why People Fall In Love With Outdoor Art (25 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Buildings That Look Like They’re From a Dream (8 Photos)
From a church in Iceland that looks like a spaceship preparing for launch, to a house zipped open on a street in Milan — this collection showcases architecture at its most imaginative. Included are cliffside wartime refuges, storybook cottages, optical illusions, and centuries-old constructions that defy gravity or blend perfectly into mountains. These aren’t digital renderings — they’re real places from around the world.
More: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Unzipped Building — Alex Chinneck in Milan, Italy
A building facade appears to peel open like a jacket, with an oversized zipper curling away the wall to reveal its inner structure. This public installation by Alex Chinneck uses stone, concrete, and illusion to challenge how we perceive architecture.
2. King Alfred’s Tower — England
This red-brick triangular tower rises dramatically from the fog in Somerset, England. Built in 1772, it commemorates Alfred the Great and reaches over 49 meters high with a narrow footprint that adds to its illusion of impossibility.
3. Alpine Refuge — Monte Cristallo, Italy
Located at 2,760 meters in the Dolomites, this hidden wooden shelter from World War I is embedded directly into the rockface. Built for survival, it now appears like a dreamlike relic barely distinguishable from the mountain.
4. Hallgrímskirkja Church — Reykjavík, Iceland
This iconic Lutheran church, inspired by basalt columns and volcanic formations, dominates the Reykjavík skyline. Designed in 1937 and completed in 1986, its symmetry and scale evoke science fiction architecture.
5. The House That Sank — The Crooked House, UK
Built in 1765 on top of a mine shaft, this British pub developed a pronounced tilt as the ground beneath it slowly gave way. Despite its slanting angles, it remained a local favorite for centuries.
6. Organic Slate Roof House — Germany
This home with flowing lines and a wave-shaped slate roof blurs the line between fairy tale and high-end eco-architecture. Natural stone and soft curves give it a whimsical yet grounded appearance.
7. Cliff House — France (Built 1347)
Balanced between eras and gravity, this timber-framed upper house sits atop massive medieval stonework. Located in France and completed in 1347, it seems to hover above the road with support beams stretching underneath.
8. Rock-Built Homes — Sanaa, Yemen
Traditional Yemeni tower houses in Sanaa rise directly from the rock, combining ancient stone masonry with ornate white geometric window frames. The buildings appear both sculpted by nature and intricately human-made.These buildings bend our expectations of what architecture can be — not just structures, but expressions of ingenuity, adaptation, and creativity. Whether carved into mountains or dressed like zippers, they show that the line between surreal and real is thinner than it seems.
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
Which one is your favorite?