Search
Items tagged with: VladoKostovSculpture
10 Urban Art Installations That Celebrate Books and Music
Content warning: From staircases turned into philosophy shelves to lamp posts jamming in a jazz band, these ten public artworks celebrate two of humanity’s most powerful forms of expression—books and music. Spotted across the globe, this curated collection features a viol
From staircases turned into philosophy shelves to lamp posts jamming in a jazz band, these ten public artworks celebrate two of humanity’s most powerful forms of expression—books and music. Spotted across the globe, this curated collection features a violin bigger than a building, a sparrow flying out of a storybook, and benches that look like novels ready to be opened. Here’s how artists have brought literature and rhythm into the streets.
More: 10 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
1. Stairs of Knowledge — University of Balamand, Lebanon
This painted staircase outside the library at the University of Balamand features 21 classic book spines arranged in near-chronological order. Titled the “Stairs of Knowledge,” the installation symbolizes intellectual progress through reading and has become a visual landmark for students and visitors alike.
2. Book Bench — Zaporozhye, Ukraine
Installed near the city library of Zaporozhye, this creatively designed bench resembles an open book with curved wooden slats for seating and white painted pages along the sides. It’s a fitting tribute to reading placed right at the heart of literary access.
3. Jazz Lamps
Street lamps take the shape of jazz musicians—one plays trumpet, another saxophone—while an ornate metal bench forms a piano. The snow-covered scene amplifies the surreal atmosphere.
More!: Repairing the World with LEGO
4. Guitar Player — Mural by Alex Maksiov in Houston, Texas, USA
Painted directly onto stair steps, this large-scale mural shows a boy sitting with a white electric guitar and an open blue case beneath him, making clever use of perspective.
🔗 Follow Alex Maksiov on Instagram
5. I Have A Dream — Mural by Bane & Pest in Chur, Switzerland
A giant sparrow emerges from a glowing open book, carrying a girl on its back. Surrounding it are tall stacks of painted books in a dreamlike composition.
More!: Amazing Murals by 3D Master Fabian Bane (7 Photos)
6. Miles Davis — Sculpture by Vlado Kostov in Kotor, Montenegro
Crafted from scrap metal, this detailed sculpture of Miles Davis captures the iconic trumpeter mid-performance, blending industrial materials with fluid motion.
7. Stringed Soul — Mural by SFHIR in Fene, Spain
Painted across the height of a building, a woman appears mid-performance with a giant white violin integrated into the building’s shape, her expression serene and focused.
More!: Turning Walls into Stories! 6 Murals by SFHIR
8. Fox and Bookshop — Mural by HERA in Vincennes, France
A giant fox curls protectively around two children reading outside a bookstore. The quote translates: “The children asked the fox how to escape reality. He replied: it’s easy, just open a book.”
More!: HERA – Crafting Stories on Walls Around the World
9. Violin Wall — Mural by Dopie in Delft, Netherlands
A hyper-saturated violin mural appears to float off the wall of a residential building. The stylized design gives a pop-art twist to classical music.
10. Trombone Player — Mural by Tom Bob in New York, USA
A yellow gas pipe becomes the body of a trombone, transformed by clever street art into a fun character blowing the horn, giving life to overlooked city infrastructure.
More!: 33 Cute Street Art Pieces by Creative Genius Tom Bob
More: 20 Street Art Pieces That Hit the Right Note
Which one is your favorite?
14 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
From a massive bookshelf painted across a building in Russia to a fox sharing wisdom on a French bookstore wall, artists across the world are transforming public spaces with book-inspired art. In Brazil, a child climbs a vibrant wall of painted encyclopedias. In Michigan, a chalk-drawn mouse curls up with a novel beneath a terra cotta pot lamp. This collection explores 14 creative murals, sculptures, and interventions where reading takes center stage—reminding us that stories still shape the cities around us.
More birds!: Read, Roam, Repeat: 11 Whimsical Public Book Spots to Celebrate World Book Day
1. Climbing the Library – Eduardo Kobra in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
A giant mural of a boy climbing a painted wooden ladder up a wall filled with colorful books. Each book spine is intricately detailed in vibrant tones, creating the illusion of a real, towering library.🔗 Follow Eduardo Kobra on Instagram
2. Giant Bookshelf Mural – JanIsDeMan in Solnechnodolsk, Russia
This massive trompe-l’œil mural transforms a bland apartment block into a three-story bookshelf packed with Russian titles, a model cathedral, and a Matryoshka doll.🔗 Follow JanIsDeMan on Instagram
3. Flying from a Book – Bane & Pest in Chur, Switzerland
On a sports court wall, a mural shows a huge bird soaring from a glowing book, with a child in blue flying on its back. Piles of painted books surround the open one, symbolizing escape through imagination.🔗 Follow Bane on Instagram
4. Books Spark Ideas – TAKERONE in Razgrad, Bulgaria
A glowing lightbulb bursts out of an open book in this dramatic mural on a school wall. White paint splashes and swirling pages emphasize the moment of creative awakening.🔗 Follow TAKERONE on Instagram
5. Escape Through a Book – HERA in Vincennes, France
Painted on the wall of a bookstore, a fox coils protectively around a boy reading. Text in French translates: “It’s easy to escape everyday life—just open a book.”🔗 Follow HERA on Instagram
7. Reading in a Meadow – Zabou in Moutiers, France
This upside-down mural cleverly uses the building’s shape to depict a girl laying in a field of dandelions, reading while listening to music. The book becomes part of the wall’s edge.🔗 Follow Zabou on Instagram
8. Brick Wall of Knowledge – Brad Spencer in Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Sculpted from brick, this piece shows three children climbing and helping one another over a wall. The figures emerge seamlessly from the same bricks, referencing growth and learning.🔗Visit Brad Spencer website
9. Books as the Foundation – Unknown Artist in Yekaterinburg, Russia
A clever urban repair fills a crumbling building base with real books set in concrete. It’s a quiet but poetic commentary on knowledge holding up society.
10. Nadines Evening of Adventure – David Zinn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
A miniature chalk drawing of a mouse reading under a terra cotta flowerpot turned into a lamp. David Zinn’s whimsical interventions bring cozy charm to any corner. More by David Zinn!: Discover David Zinn’s Amazing Chalk Art Masterpieces in Michigan🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
11. Book-Shaped Benches – Unknown Artist, likely Eastern Europe
These curving benches look like thick, open books with lines of text printed across them. They invite passersby to sit down—literally—on a story.
12. Tree Became a Library – Ruurlo, Netherlands
This open-air library is built into the hollowed trunk of an old tree, with small glass-fronted cabinets neatly installed into the wood. It holds a selection of books and acts as a public book exchange in a natural setting.
13. Dystopia Bowl
A black Halloween bowl filled with copies of George Orwell’s 1984 sits outside a home, accompanied by a sign reading “One Copy of 1984 Per Child.” It mimics a trick-or-treat setup but swaps candy for political commentary.
14. By Darion Fleming — Brooklyn, New York
Mural by Darion Fleming at 108 St. Edwards Street in Brooklyn, created with WXLLSPACE. It shows a young girl holding a box of school supplies and a stack of books supporting a globe. On top sits a teddy bear wearing a graduation cap with a pigeon perched above. The mural celebrates education featuring book titles such as “Unity Makes Strength” and “The Woman’s Hour.”🔗 Follow Darion Fleming on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Login • Instagram
Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.www.instagram.com
This Is How You Think Outside the Box! (8 Photos)
Content warning: From a wall crack turned into a bird to a “dog library” for sticks, this collection brings together eight playful street artworks that twist everyday objects into clever surprises. Expect invisible men, rock dinosaurs, sewer covers turned into record play
From a wall crack turned into a bird to a “dog library” for sticks, this collection brings together eight playful street artworks that twist everyday objects into clever surprises. Expect invisible men, rock dinosaurs, sewer covers turned into record players, and more creative illusions that prove the streets are full of imagination.
More!: Made You Smile (8 Photos)
1. Bird Crack — Unknown artist
A simple crack in the wall turned into the body of a bird with two legs drawn underneath. A minimal intervention that turns damage into creativity.
2. Dog Library — Unknown artist
A humorous installation with a sign reading “Dog Library: Take a stick, leave a stick.” A witty nod to how dogs collect sticks, presented like a public service.
3. Invisible Man — Unknown artist
A small setup on the street with flip-flops on a stool and a sign announcing an “Invisible Naked Man.” A funny take on busking with nothing to see but imagination.
4. Rock Dinosaur — David Zinn in USA
A rock on the sidewalk becomes the head of a dinosaur, complete with an open mouth and tiny arms, thanks to clever chalk art. More!: Cute Art By David Zinn (14 Photos)
🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
5. DJ Cover — Unknown artist
A manhole cover is outlined with white paint to resemble a turntable, turning a functional object into a playful nod to music culture.
6. Miles Davis Sculpture — Vlado Kostov in Kotor, Montenegro
A sculpture of Miles Davis made from scrap metal, created by Vlado Kostov. The piece merges music and machinery in the old town of Kotor.
7. The Cracks — Oakoak in France
A small painted figure with a pickaxe appears to be working on a real crack in the stone, blending painting with physical damage. More!: Street Art By Oakoak (9 Photos)
🔗 Follow Oakoak on Instagram
8. Shady Watch Dealer — Tom Bob in California, USA
Utility meters on a wall are transformed into watches, displayed by a painted shady dealer character. A clever piece by Tom Bob that reimagines urban infrastructure. More!: 33 Artworks by Creative Genius Tom Bob (That Will Make You Smile)
🔗 Follow Tom Bob on Instagram
More: Funny Signs! (18 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Made You Smile (11 Photos)
From a playful chalk monster to a balcony illusion that tricks the eye, this collection captures eight lighthearted street artworks and public interventions that bring smiles to passersby. From Paris to local sidewalks, here are moments where humor and creativity meet the streets.
More: Funny Signs! (18 Photos)
1. Balcony Illusion — Oakoak in Paris, France
A trompe-l’œil artwork showing two women leaning from a balcony, one laughing and the other observing, blending seamlessly with the building façade. More!: Wrong but Right – Art By Oakoak (9 Photos)🔗 Follow Oakoak on Instagram
2. Nadine and the Surprisingly Effective Joke — David Zinn in USA
Sidewalk chalk art where a rock forms the head of a wide-mouthed creature holding a tiny mouse-like character in blue, blending humor with natural surroundings. More!: 9 Cute Spring Drawings by David Zinn🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
3. Have You Seen This Dog?
A playful flyer featuring a friendly dog with the text “Now you have. Have a GOOD day,” complete with tear-off tabs reading “Have a great day.”
4. Little People Museum — Slinkachu in UK
A miniature installation where tiny figurines examine a cigarette butt displayed as if it were a museum artifact, highlighting humor and commentary in scale. More!: 7 Tiny Street Dramas by Slinkachu🔗 Follow Slinkachu on Instagram
5. Pipe Legs
Two wall pipes painted with chalk shoes, turning ordinary infrastructure into the legs of a playful character.
6. R2-D2 with Flowers — EFIX in France
A painted R2-D2 holding flowers with a heart bubble, leaning toward a trash bin in a playful urban romance scene. More!: EFIX’s Clever Art (9 Photos)🔗 Follow EFIX on Instagram
7. Please Do Not Touch — Michael Pederson in Sydney, Australia
A dandelion framed with miniature museum-style posts and a sign reading “Please Do Not Touch,” turning an everyday weed into a delicate exhibit. More!: Clever Art By Michael Pederson (17 Photos)🔗 Follow Michael Pederson on Instagram
8. Charlie Chaplin — Tom Bob in USA
A before-and-after transformation where wall fixtures become part of a painted gentleman in a bowler hat, complete with a cane. Charlie Chaplin! More!: 33 Artworks by Creative Genius Tom Bob (That Will Make You Smile)🔗 Follow Tom Bob on Instagram
9. Ghostwalk — Oakoak in Auchel, France
A playful crosswalk intervention by Oakoak in Auchel, created during the festival Les Petits Bonheurs. The artist turned a simple crossing into a scene of animated white stripes reacting to a ghostly visitor. More by Oakoak: Lovely by Oakoak (10 Photos)🔗 Follow Oakoak on Instagram
10. The Fabulous Tale of Being Different — Case Maclaim in Madrid, Spain
Case Maclaim’s mural in Madrid depicts a young person in a wheelchair draped in vibrant fabrics, blending strength and softness in a single portrait. More photos!: The Fabulous Tale Of Being Different (by Case Maclaim in Madrid)Case Maclaim: I believe the actual beauty of fairy tales is that it is up to our imagination how the character looks and moves and that version is not really up to debate, as it is just like a fingerprint, very unique and personal. With this mural in the old, historical city center of Madrid I wanted to try a different approach. So I gave the viewer a new character of a yet unknown fairy tale. I have high hopes that it will encourage specially the young audience to come up with their very own story, in which the lead is a confident, black child in a golden wheelchair and in a self-made mermaid costume.
🔗 Follow Case Maclaim on Instagram
Dog trying to comfort sad painted boy
Stencil by Trevor Cole in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada. Photo by [b]Erika Lopez[/b] of her dog Carlos.More: Absolutely Beautiful (8 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
oakoak (@oakoak_street_art) • Instagram photos and videos
126K Followers, 305 Following, 862 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from oakoak (@oakoak_street_art)www.instagram.com
