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Items tagged with: PublicSpaceArt
Clever Signs (9 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From snail-themed nostalgia to witty jabs at global politics, these clever signs turn ordinary streets into places of unexpected humor. Captured in cities around the world, each one is a quick hit of wit—from a dog library beneath a tree to a “Star Wars” joke built into a drainpipe. This collection includes signs about bees, books, birds, Brits, and Lionel Richie. Scroll through and find your favorite.
More!: Funny Signs (16 Photos)
1. “Pardon the Weeds”
A yellow sign reads “Pardon the Weeds, We Are Feeding the Bees,” placed in front of a flower-filled urban meadow near a residential building. Surrounded by wild poppies and native plants, the message blends charm with environmental awareness.
2. “All Americans Must Be Accompanied”
Outside a storefront, a chalkboard sign dryly announces: “All Americans must be accompanied by an adult.” A pointed jab likely referencing international stereotypes, it stands out as political commentary disguised as humor.
3. “Dog Library”
A handmade wooden sign invites dogs to “Take a stick, Leave a stick,” next to a generous pile of twigs beneath a tree. A perfect mix of wholesome and imaginative public space use.
4. “Gary, Come Home”
A drawing of Gary the Snail from SpongeBob SquarePants appears on a lost pet-style flyer taped to a street pole. The plea “Gary, Come Home” references the viral cartoon song of the same name.
5. “Don’t Buy Cages. Plant Trees.”
A mural-like sign with a bird perched on a pine branch delivers a strong environmental message: “If you want to listen to bird songs, don’t buy cages. Plant trees!”
6. “Empires, Kingdoms, Countries”
In front of a British-themed pub, a sandwich board offers a dry history lesson: “Empires run by Emperors… Kingdoms by Kings… and now Countries.” An ironic nod to modern politics.
7. “Hello? Is It Me…”
A flyer parodying Lionel Richie’s famous ballad features his portrait with tear-off lyrics from “Hello.” A great example of pop culture used in absurd street humor.
8. “Luke, I Am Your Father”
A speech bubble sticker next to a ventilation pipe transforms the pipe into a character from Star Wars, completing the famous “Luke, I am your father” quote.
9. Free! Take One
More!: Funny Signs (10 Photos)
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9 Sculptures You (Probably) Didn’t Know Existed
From a 50-foot Native American monument overlooking the Missouri River to a surreal hammock strung across a border fence, these sculptures push the boundaries of form, meaning, and public space. Whether constructed from stone, steel, wire, or illusion, each work defies convention — and chances are, you haven’t seen them before. Locations span from Barcelona to Philadelphia, from South Dakota plains to Turkish landscapes.
More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
1. Melancholy — Albert György in Geneva, Switzerland
This bronze sculpture of a seated figure appears hollowed out from within, forming an arched void from chest to head. The minimalist facial features and slumped posture evoke absence and loss, using emptiness as its central element.
2. Window and Ladder – Too Late for Help — Leandro Erlich in Montevideo, Uruguay
A fragment of brick wall with a single window floats mid-air, supported by a ladder that leads nowhere. Placed in an empty lot, this illusion-based sculpture alters space and challenges logic.
3. Border Hammock — Murat Gök in Istanbul, Turkey
Two fence poles curve inward to cradle a man resting in a hammock made from the fence itself. By bending an otherwise rigid border element into a place of rest, the sculpture offers a quiet yet clever political statement.
4. Freedom — Zenos Frudakis in Philadelphia, USA
This bronze wall shows four human forms in various stages of breaking free, culminating in a fully emerged figure stepping into open space. It explores transformation and personal liberation.
5. Giant Slingshot Bench — Cornelia Konrads in Germany
A wooden bench is suspended by two long red straps tied to a massive Y-shaped branch. The setup mimics a slingshot ready to launch, blending utility with playful imagination.
6. Dignity — Dale Lamphere in Chamberlain, South Dakota, USA
Standing 50 feet tall, this stainless steel monument honors Native American women. The figure wears a star quilt composed of blue diamond shapes that shimmer in the wind.
7. The Kiss of Death — Unknown Artist in Barcelona, Spain
This marble sculpture in Poblenou Cemetery shows a skeleton with wings gently kissing the forehead of a lifeless young man. Created in 1930, it’s both romantic and haunting.
8. The Weight of Grief — Celeste Roberge in Portland, Maine, USA
A crouched human form is constructed from a metal frame filled with smooth river stones. The heavy material and posture communicate emotional burden through literal weight.
9. UMI — Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois, USA
This monumental figure is composed of sculpted wood and branches shaped into a female form. Her hands and body are formed by intertwining tree limbs, suggesting organic unity.More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
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Garbage With Style (8 Photos)
Content warning: From cookie-loving bins to clever cyclist designs, these creative trash cans show how small details can bring humor, style, and smart function to public spaces. In this collection, you’ll see a dapper gentleman bin, a giant bottle recycling cage, cartoon
From cookie-loving bins to clever cyclist designs, these creative trash cans show how small details can bring humor, style, and smart function to public spaces. In this collection, you’ll see a dapper gentleman bin, a giant bottle recycling cage, cartoon faces painted on dumpsters, and more unusual ideas found around the world.
More: The City Has Eyes (8 Photos)
1. Bottle Bin
A yellow wire frame designed in the shape of a huge plastic bottle, serving as a recycling container for smaller bottles. Its oversized form makes recycling more engaging and visible in the park.
2. Cookie Monster Bin
A playful purple bin fitted with large googly eyes and a cookie at the opening, mimicking the Cookie Monster. A humorous design encouraging passersby to interact with the bin.
8. Gentleman Bin
A metal mesh bin transformed into a standing figure with shoes, gloves, and a top hat, giving the appearance of a saluting gentleman. A whimsical character in public space.
4. Cyclist’s Bin — Copenhagen, Denmark
A black tilted bin installed at an angle along a bike lane, making it easy for cyclists to dispose of trash while riding. A functional design tailored to the city’s cycling culture.
5. Cat Dumpsters
Two dumpsters painted with large, detailed cat faces, complete with whiskers and expressive eyes. The artwork humorously blends with a real cat passing by on the street.
6. Cartoon Bins
Two wheelie bins customized with airbrushed cartoon faces. One has a shocked expression, the other is blue and cheeky, sticking its tongue out. A playful twist on ordinary bins.
7. Cigarette Bin
A trash container shaped like an oversized cigarette butt, positioned by a bench to encourage smokers to dispose of their waste properly.
8. Donald Dump — Paris, France
A standard green bin topped with a folded cardboard box arranged to look like a head, complete with cut-out eyes and yellow hair. A temporary but striking urban character.
More: Made You Smile (8 Photos)
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The City Has Eyes (8 Photos)
From an earthquake detection “kit” in a school hallway to a trash bin channeling Cookie Monster, googly eyes have quietly become one of the most playful forms of street-level intervention. This collection brings together eight clever, charming, and unexpected urban artworks from around the world — where a pair of eyes is all it takes to give life to objects, trees, and everyday structures. Featuring moments from sidewalks, forests, parks, and roundabouts, this is public art at its most fun.
More: 16 Googly-Eyed Street Art Gems That I Love
Cookie Monster Bin
A blue trash bin with white googly eyes becomes a comical likeness of Cookie Monster, especially with a real cookie placed just inside the opening like a mouth. The transformation invites smiles from passersby and encourages playful interaction with public infrastructure.
Earthquake Detection Kit
A neon yellow sign taped to a beige brick wall reads “Earthquake Detection Kit,” with a pair of wobbling googly eyes stuck below the text. A tongue-in-cheek joke, it turns an otherwise dull wall into a moment of humor.
Tree Stump Creature
A weathered tree stump near a lake is brought to life with two oversized googly eyes. Its gnarled roots resemble crawling limbs, making the stump appear like a wide-eyed forest creature peeking out from the shoreline.
Staring Sculpture
A perforated spherical sculpture at a roadside location in Bend, Oregon has had a pair of googly eyes added. The eyes give the metal orb an expressive, animated look that humorously contrasts its abstract, static design.
Pac-Man Bollards – By Vanyu Krastev
A cracked concrete traffic bollard shaped like a ball is transformed into a character resembling Pac-Man with the simple addition of two googly eyes. The mouth-like crack and playful gaze give personality to the damaged structure.
Tree Hug – By Vanyu Krastev
A tree growing through a metal fence is given a whimsical face using googly eyes placed on the bars. The tree’s growth forms a natural mouth-like shape that, combined with a stub resembling a nose, creates a surprisingly expressive character.
Giant Tree Monster
A tall evergreen tree is turned into a towering creature using two oversized inflatable eyeballs. The result is a hilarious and surreal visual that transforms an ordinary tree into a cartoonish park guardian.
Deer Sculpture Surprise
A bronze sculpture of a mother deer and her fawn is playfully transformed with large googly eyes. The addition gives the pair a startled, cartoon-like expression, making this realistic public artwork suddenly feel animated and silly.With just two plastic eyes, artists and pranksters around the world are giving personality to the inanimate. These small interventions highlight the joy of noticing the overlooked and reshaping the mundane. Whether it’s a trash bin, tree, or bollard, nothing is safe from being googly-eyed — and we’re all better for it.
More: Playing with statues (25 photos)
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Fixed It For You (10 Photos)
Content warning: Sometimes the best repairs don’t come from the city—they come from artists with a sense of humor and a sharp eye for flaws worth fixing. In this collection, utility boxes, potholes, and cracked concrete all get unexpected upgrades. From David Zinn’s chalk
Sometimes the best repairs don’t come from the city—they come from artists with a sense of humor and a sharp eye for flaws worth fixing. In this collection, utility boxes, potholes, and cracked concrete all get unexpected upgrades. From David Zinn’s chalk creatures running a waffle business to a derelict bus stop turned into The Simpson’s living room, these clever interventions take broken, boring, or overlooked spots and turn them into moments of delight.
More: Unreal Moments (8 Photos)
1. Mosaic Street Repair — Ememem in Lyon, France
A damaged triangle of pavement beneath a street pole is transformed into a precise, colorful mosaic pattern of tiles, circles, and squares. The once-forgotten gap is now a geometric burst of color. More!: Repairing Streets with Artful Mosaics (14 Photos)
🔗 Follow Ememem on Instagram
2. No Entry? Just a Bar Now
This altered street sign turns the white bar of a “No Entry” into a minimalist bar counter. Three stick figures sit and chat over drinks, suddenly making the sign feel like a neighborhood hangout.
More!: Playful Art (8 Photos)
3. Waffle Maker — David Zinn in the USA
A chalk possum pours batter into a sewer cover, reimagined as a waffle iron. A squirrel assists while the metal lid leans open like a kitchen appliance. Street flaws become the setup for a surreal breakfast. David Zinn’s caption: Later that day, Clem and Stuart’s new business venture hit a rough patch when they learned that waffle makers need to be plugged in.
🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
4. Simpsonized Bus Stop — DUUDOOR in Brazil
A abandoned bus stop is reimagined as the iconic living room from The Simpsons. Pink walls, green floors, the orange couch, and even the sailboat painting are recreated in full detail. More photos and about it!: Simpsons!: This bus stop in Brazil, before and after an artist added their touch
🔗 Follow DUUDOOR on Instagram
5. Tree with a Face — By Vanyu Krastev in Bulgaria
A tree squeezed between metal bars is given googly eyes and a stump nose, turning a natural deformity into a goofy, expressive character grinning at passersby. More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)
🔗 Follow Vanyu Krastev on Instagram
6. Shocked Homer — By OakOak
Painted on a brick wall, Homer Simpson appears to be getting electrocuted by a real utility box and cables. His panicked expression and pose sync perfectly with the tangled wires.. More!: Oakoak’s Genius Street Art! (10 Photos)
🔗 Follow Oakoak on Instagram
7. LEGO Brick Repair — By Jan Vormann
A crumbling brick wall gets patched with multicolored LEGO pieces, creating a jarring but playful contrast. The plastic bricks follow the angles of the damaged area with surprising precision. More!: Repairing the World with LEGO (10 Photos)
🔗 Follow Jan Vormann on Instagram
8. Stack of Books Wall Fix
An eroded wall corner is filled with real books, their spines carefully arranged to mimic bricks. The unexpected material creates a moment of curiosity on an otherwise worn-down street.
9. Band-Aid Crack Fix
A black-and-white photo captures a child sitting on the ground, gently applying band-aids to a long crack in the pavement. Real-world damage becomes part of the narrative in this touching setup.
10. The Mystery Machine by Oakoak
In this playful transformation, French street artist Oakoak breathes new life into an old, overgrown van by turning it into Scooby-Doo’s iconic Mystery Machine. What was once a forgotten vehicle hidden under vines now sparks nostalgia and smiles, perfectly blending pop culture with urban decay.
🔗 Follow Oakoak on Instagram
More: Absolutely Stunning (8 Photos)
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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)
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