Content warning: From surreal murals reaching for the moon to playful chalk illusions tucked between rocks, these nine works transform ordinary streets and walls into scenes of wonder. You’ll find dreamlike portraits in Peru, clever perspective tricks in France and South
From surreal murals reaching for the moon to playful chalk illusions tucked between rocks, these nine works transform ordinary streets and walls into scenes of wonder. You’ll find dreamlike portraits in Peru, clever perspective tricks in France and South Africa, and bold characters in glowing glasses. Here’s a tour through nine pieces of urban magic.
3. Mountains and Mirrors — Falko Fantastic in Cape Town, South Africa
A mural painted on a ruined wall integrates with the surrounding landscape. The open rectangle frames the horizon, while the painted face aligns with the real scenery, creating a mirrored illusion between wall and world.
A photorealistic mural of a dog painted onto an alleyway wall. The animal appears to be lying across both the wall and utility boxes, making the surface disappear into the artwork. More!: 6 Walls Where Hebs Art Left Something You Can Still Feel
5. Nadine and the Surprisingly Effective Joke — David Zinn in the USA
A chalk drawing on a sidewalk where a small character interacts with a crack in the pavement. The surrounding stone becomes part of the joke, turning a simple detail of the street into a lively scene. More!: Happy Art by David Zinn (10 Photos)
6. Balcony with Cat — WD (Wild Drawing) at Tinos island, Greece
A mural on a concrete structure depicts a woman in purple sitting with her cat, gazing out toward the sea. The painted balcony opens the small building to its surroundings, fusing real horizon and painted view. More!: Beautiful 3D Art by WD! (8 Photos)
7. Childhood Dreams — Andy J. Céspedes Fernández in Moyobamba, Peru
A colorful mural of a young girl resting among flowers, surrounded by birds and kites. The detailed portrait stretches across the wall, mixing realism with fantasy elements.
8. Playful Characters in Glasses — Bill Knospi in Germany
Two murals of cartoon characters wearing oversized neon glasses. The bold outlines and glowing colors make the figures appear animated against the gray walls, blending pop culture with playful street presence. More by Bill Knospi!: Those Glasses Pop! (10 Photos)
From sculptures woven with roots in Chicago to surrealist murals in Germany and delicate land art on UK shores, these works show the incredible range of creativity found in public spaces. This collection brings together emotional sculptures, layered murals, natural installations, and striking portraits — each piece transforming its surroundings into something unforgettable.
A monumental figure crafted from wood and roots, with hands gently opening the chest as if revealing an inner world. The sculpture blends natural textures with a calm, meditative expression, placed in a green landscape. More!: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
2. Tor zu Flingern — Klaus Klinger in Düsseldorf, Germany
A building facade covered in layered scenes: oversized faces, bicyclists, cityscapes, and fantastical figures blend together in a dreamlike sequence. Painted stairs extend into the real street, making passersby part of the artwork. The woman and the dog really live in the house and the mural is called “Tor zu Flingern”.
3. Fluidus — Jon Foreman in Wales, UK
Curved lines of pebbles arranged on a sandy beach form a rhythmic wave pattern. Each stone is placed to create a sense of movement, with colors shifting from dark to light across the design. More by Jon Foreman!: Stone By Stone (19 Photos)
Jon Foreman: Yes it looks like a jellyfish, no its not meant to be one. I’m not trying to suppress any imagination but for me I’m essentially trying to create something that doesn’t yet exist so that attachment to something that does exist gets on my nerves haha also feels like its oversimplifying the work a bit… But call it what you want haha!
4. World goal 9 — Cristian Blanxer in Aarhus, Denmark
A mural depicting the profile of a woman tilting her head back, inside which a street scene is painted. The composition creates a layered perspective, blending portraiture with city architecture. More!: 6 Murals by Cristian Blanxer and Victor García Repo
5. Giant Pigeon — The Highness in Stockholm, Sweden
A hyper-detailed mural of a pigeon fills the wall, painted with iridescent feathers and lifelike texture. The piece elevates a common urban bird into a monumental presence.
A striking portrait of a woman in traditional clothing, holding a sword with a white dragon behind her. Surrounded by flowers and bold patterns, the mural combines cultural symbolism with detailed realism.
7. The Weight of Grief — Celeste Roberge in the USA
A crouching human figure formed from a steel framework filled with large stones. The work conveys heaviness and endurance, with the rocks serving as both structure and burden. More like this: The Weight We Carry (8 Photos)
8. Willow Archer — Anna The Willow in the UK
A life-sized figure of an archer sculpted from woven willow branches, standing in a forest clearing. The natural material creates flowing lines that resemble both a dress and the pull of the bow.
9. Guardianes del Horizonte — Moxaico in Caspe, Spain
A large mural showing three birds inside a circular frame: an owl, a small songbird and a vulture. The animals are painted in warm yellow tones against a black background, with fine floral line work surrounding them.
A monochrome portrait painted on a decaying interior wall. The artwork shows the side profile of an elderly man with closed eyes, deep wrinkles and a long beard. The peeling paint and broken ceiling become part of the scene.
Content warning: From mountain murals that merge with nature to sculptures gazing across endless waters, these public artworks invite us to pause and look deeper. This collection spans from South Africa and Greece to Switzerland and England — each piece uniquely blending
From mountain murals that merge with nature to sculptures gazing across endless waters, these public artworks invite us to pause and look deeper. This collection spans from South Africa and Greece to Switzerland and England — each piece uniquely blending art, place, and perspective.
2. The Child — Victor Ash in Oakland, California, USA
A monumental mural of a smiling child holding a soccer ball adorns a tall building, glowing with the city’s sunset light and symbolizing energy and optimism.
Victor Ash: “The Child” is a site specific monumental painting in the heart of Oakland on the side of the 21 floor building of the Marriott hotel. Part of the idea, was to use the San Francisco Bay’s Area Sunset on the left side of the building.
White shrouded figures sit silently overlooking Lake Como, forming an eerie yet peaceful contrast between human absence and natural grandeur. More: Haunting Ghost Sculptures! (12 Photos)
4. Mountains and Mirrors — Falko Fantastic in Cape Town, South Africa
A playful use of framing and perspective transforms a simple ruin into a living canvas, where painted features interact with the real landscape beyond.
A bronze sculpture depicting King Arthur standing on the cliffs of Tintagel. The hollow form and weathered surface merge with the dramatic coastal landscape.
7. By the Sea — WD (Wild Drawing) on Tinos Island, Greece
A painted figure sits beside a cat, looking out toward the sea. The mural transforms an abandoned concrete block into a calm and contemplative scene. More!: Beautiful 3D Art by WD! (8 Photos)
From surreal sculptures set in lush landscapes to lifelike murals transforming city walls, these eight works capture the many ways public art can inspire. This collection takes you from vivid nature scenes to intimate portraits, with each piece offering a unique encounter in the open air. Featured are artists from Spain, Belgium, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Australia, and beyond.
1. True Nature — Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Cancun, Mexico
A monumental white sculpture of a figure holding its own face as a mask, with the head’s interior open to reveal dense tropical greenery. This work merges art with the natural environment, creating a striking visual link between human identity and the surrounding jungle.
A vibrant building facade mural showing a young boy standing beside a white dog, facing a woman playing guitar. The central structure of the building separates the two figures but keeps them visually connected through color and composition.
A portrait of a woman in a loose cream shirt, sitting with fruit and a glass of drink in front of her. The soft light and calm expression give the piece a classical, painting-like quality.
A towering mural of the Gentiana lutea plant painted along the full height of a tall concrete building. The bright yellow flowers and lush green leaves contrast sharply with the grey urban backdrop. More photos!: Flower mural by Mona Caron in Le Locle, Switzerland
A massive mural on grain silos showing a bearded man in a hat with clasped hands, overlaid with a golden rural sunset scene complete with a windmill and open fields. More by SMUG!: 24 Times SMUG Made Walls Look More Real Than Life
A soft-focus style mural of a woman in a white dress holding a red jug, standing in a lush garden with trees and flowers. The brushstroke style evokes a painted canvas.
7. Mural by Collin van der Sluijs — Maastricht, Netherlands
A richly detailed mural of a brown bird surrounded by flowers, leaves, and smaller birds, set against a colorful, patterned background. More!: Murals By Collin Van der Sluijs (7 Photos)
This striking mural by Zion Graffiti, painted for Meeting Of Styles Colombia 2025, portrays the profile of an elderly man with flowing white hair and beard that merge seamlessly with the wall’s dark background.
1,358 likes, 93 comments - victor.ash.studio on April 19, 2021: "A few facts: “The Child” is a site specific monumental painting in the heart of Oakland on the side of the 21 floor building of the Marriott hotel.
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