Content warning: Across cities from Patras to Mons, walls and pavements turn deceptive. A rabbit runs late through gold scrolls, a tiger leans out of a frame, and an abandoned warehouse hides a train that isn’t there. Each surface plays tricks on the eye — even concrete c
Across cities from Patras to Mons, walls and pavements turn deceptive. A rabbit runs late through gold scrolls, a tiger leans out of a frame, and an abandoned warehouse hides a train that isn’t there. Each surface plays tricks on the eye — even concrete can lie.
1. Time Hole — WD (Wild Drawing) in Patras, Greece
A woman in red sits on a giant mushroom beneath swirling gold details while the White Rabbit climbs above her holding a clock. The mural bends perspective, merging fantasy and architecture into one scene. More: Beautiful 3D Art by WD! (8 Photos)
Inside an abandoned warehouse, a derelict wall becomes a realistic train, complete with graffiti and metal textures. Odeith’s precise shading transforms emptiness into illusion. More: 3D Art By Odeith (20 Photos)
4. The Hairless Cat — Braga Last One in Les Pennes-Mirabeau, France
A sphynx cat painted on a tank appears curled in the grass. The scene shifts with the seasons — blending into summer fields or snow-covered hills with equal realism. More: Absolutely Brilliant By Braga Last One (14 Photos)
A young woman sits by sunlight and sunflowers, her calm expression surrounded by warm reflections. The composition makes the painted window feel open to the real world. More: Amazing Murals by 3D Master Fabian Bane (7 Photos)
6. Building Puzzle — Shozy in Solnechnogorsk, Russia
A corner building painted with geometric precision creates the illusion of floating cubes and recessed windows. The perspective shifts depending on where the viewer stands. More: 3D Madness By Shozy! (5 Photos)
7. Down the Hole — Joe & Max in New York City, USA
A street painting opens into a glowing sci-fi pit, pulling pedestrians toward the depths. The optical illusion captures people’s reactions as they step up to the edge. More: Amazing 3D Art By Joe and Max (8 Photos)
Painted across interior walls and corners, this tiger bursts out from bricks with lifelike motion. Its growl seems to echo through the room, blending paint and reality seamlessly.
9. T-Rex Breaking Through — Shaun Hodgkin in Portsmouth, UK
A monochrome T-Rex is painted as if emerging through a brick wall. The artwork uses a trompe-l’oeil effect, with black painted bricks framing the opening and the dinosaur’s head, torso, and tail extending outward. Smaller stencil pieces appear around the base of the wall.
Shaun Hodgkin: My first “proper” wall painted in Portsmouth for the LOOK UP Portsmouth paint festival. All hand cut stencils, painted in the wind & rain……a perfect combination?!
10. Cat Under the Bridge — Andy Dice Davies in Cheltenham, UK
A large cat is painted beneath a brick archway, positioned as if emerging toward the viewer. The mural features wide eyes, detailed fur, and an extended paw reaching forward. The surrounding foliage and brickwork frame the illusion.
Andy Dice Davies: this is a painting of my actual cat and that’s my son in the picture! Its in Cheltenham at Little Herberts Nature Reserve. As soon as I saw the line of black bricks I had to paint this!
Get ready to be mesmerized by the fascinating world of 3D street art!
In today’s blog post, we’ll delve into the mind-bending realm of anamorphic masterpieces, as we explore how these optical illusions are created and what makes them so captivating. So, buckle up and let’s dive into the intriguing world of 3D street art!
It’s all about perspective! The Art of Anamorphosis:
Creating Illusions Anamorphosis, the technique behind 3D street art, involves creating distorted images that only appear in their correct proportions when viewed from a specific angle or through a reflective device. This mind-blowing technique has been around since the Renaissance, but it wasn’t until the late 20th century that artists began applying it to the streets, transforming ordinary pavements into magical wonderlands.
We can’t talk about 3D street art without mentioning its pioneers, Kurt Wenner and Julian Beever. Both artists started creating anamorphic illusions on the streets of Europe in the 1980s, revolutionizing the street art scene. Their innovative works have inspired a new generation of artists to experiment with perspective and create their own jaw-dropping 3D masterpieces.
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By Kurt Wenner
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By Julian Beever
The Process: From Sketch to Lifelike Artwork
Creating 3D street art is a labor-intensive process that begins with a detailed sketch of the desired illusion. Artists then use mathematical calculations and perspective techniques to determine the correct proportions for the final piece. Once the groundwork is done, they meticulously apply chalk or paint to the pavement, using shading and highlights to bring the illusion to life.
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By Leon Keer, Ruben Poncia, Remko van Schaik and Peter Westerink during the 4th Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida USBy Leon Keer, Ruben Poncia, Remko van Schaik and Peter Westerink during the 4th Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida USBy Leon Keer, Ruben Poncia, Remko van Schaik and Peter Westerink during the 4th Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida US
The Impact: Engaging and Interactive Art
One of the most captivating aspects of 3D street art is its interactive nature. Viewers are encouraged to engage with the artwork, often becoming a part of the scene themselves. This immersive quality allows people to connect with art on a deeper level, sparking curiosity and inspiring creativity.
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3D Pedestrian Crossings Are Slowing Down Speeding Drivers in Iceland
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Braga Last1, also known as Tom Bragado Blanco Brings Old Gas Tank to Life with Stunning Sphynx Cat Illusion.
Where to See 3D Street Art: Festivals and Events
Eager to experience these incredible optical illusions for yourself? Keep an eye out for street art festivals and events, where many 3D artists showcase their talents. Some popular events include the Sarasota Chalk Festival in Florida, the Lake Worth Street Painting Festival, also in Florida, and the Fiera delle Grazie in Italy.
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Sleeping kitten by WA in Lima, Peru.
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‘Knowledge speaks – Wisdom listens’ – Mural in by WD (Wilddrawing) in Athens, Greece.
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By Made in Graffiti: The sleeping beauty – In Picardie, France.
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By Peeta in Mannheim, Germany.
To understand the 3D effect better, see more photos of the mural here.
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Horse by Nikolaj Arndt in Neustadt, Germany.
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Giraffe Eating the Plants by Jan Is De Man in Utrecht, Netherlands.
Content warning: This collection showcases eight striking examples of 3D street art from around the world — from mind-bending floor illusions in Dublin to photorealistic murals that seem to burst from building walls. You’ll find playful chalk creatures scaling bricks, sur
This collection showcases eight striking examples of 3D street art from around the world — from mind-bending floor illusions in Dublin to photorealistic murals that seem to burst from building walls. You’ll find playful chalk creatures scaling bricks, surreal wildlife emerging from unexpected surfaces, and entire cityscapes transformed into optical illusions.
1. A Long Climb Over Shortcomings — David Zinn in Willoughby, USA
A chalk artwork of a small green creature climbing a painted ladder on a brick wall, with its head peeking from a small painted hole. The trompe-l’oeil effect makes the scene appear three-dimensional despite being entirely flat. More!: Playful Art By David Zinn (10 Photos)
A mural of a young woman sitting in a sunlit frame, weaving a fishing net beside a large basket of sunflowers. The painted frame and realistic shadows give the illusion that she is inside the wall’s opening. More!: Amazing Murals by 3D Master Fabian Bane (7 Photos)
3. Library Illusion — Joe and Max in Dublin, Ireland
A large-scale pavement painting creating the illusion of a deep library pit filled with books, staircases, and mythical creatures. Two people balance at the top of a painted stack of books. More!: 9 Mind-Blowing 3D Street Art by Joe and Max
4. Between Two Worlds — SCAF in an Abandoned Location
A mural of a blue shark appearing to swim through pink portals, splitting into segments as it passes through. A person poses horizontally at the shark’s midsection, enhancing the illusion of motion. More!: 26 Amazing 3D Paintings by SCAF!
6. Yellow Betta — Sebastien “Sweo” & Nikita in Abbeville, France
A large-scale mural of a yellow betta fish swimming out of a frame, surrounded by floating blue cubes. The design combines hyperrealistic details with geometric elements. More photos here!
7. Sphynx Cat Gas Tank Illusion — Braga Last One in Portugal
A large gas tank painted to look like a crouching sphynx cat ready to pounce, blending into a grassy roadside environment. The perspective makes the tank disappear into the animal’s shape. More!: Mind-Bending 3D Street Art by Braga Last One (+10 Photos)
Jan Is De Man: In this interactive project, local residents could send me their most precious object. Besides the size this also was a challenging mural for me cause I painted a lot of things that I usually would never do. As an example: I never thought I would paint a singing frog like this.
From a fox wearing a plant to a dragon in a book club, David Zinn’s latest chalk creatures have taken over sidewalks, stumps, and stones across Michigan and beyond. This selection includes new works like Nadine and the Effusively Feathered Friend, Rudy Is Prepared to Rain on Your Parade, and Sluggo Preparing for Berkley Street Art Fest, each blending seamlessly with the real environment. You’ll meet Sluggo, Reggie, Nadine, Clarence, and a bear named Ursula—each popping up where you’d least expect them.
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.
