Search
Items tagged with: livingSculpture
What Time Reveals (9 Photos)
Content warning: From buried mosaics to trees shaping themselves around bricks, these 9 artworks and urban phenomena show how time quietly alters the world around us. Featured in this collection: a Roman mosaic uncovered beneath modern London, living sculptures shaped by
From buried mosaics to trees shaping themselves around bricks, these 9 artworks and urban phenomena show how time quietly alters the world around us. Featured in this collection: a Roman mosaic uncovered beneath modern London, living sculptures shaped by season, and a weathered bronze statue worn by human ritual. Nature, memory, decay—and renewal—are all etched into these moments.
More: Playing With Statues (11 Photos)
1. Roman Mosaic Unearthed — Southwark, London, UK
Two archaeologists gently uncover a large Roman mosaic beneath a construction site near The Shard in central London. The vibrant geometric patterns, preserved underground for nearly 2,000 years, reveal a glimpse into an ancient dining room once part of a Roman mansio (guesthouse).
More!: Hidden for Centuries! Stunning Ancient Mosaics Discovered Beneath Modern Cities (7 Photos)
2. Mondrian Roots — Hong Kong
The roots of a banyan tree spread across the brick sidewalk in sharp, grid-like formations. Pressed by the rigid pavement, the natural growth has conformed over time into a geometric pattern that echoes Mondrian’s abstract art.
More photos!: Nature at Work: “Mondrianish” Banyan Tree Roots Create Art in Hong Kong
3. Freedom Sculpture — Philadelphia, USA
A bronze figure emerges from a textured wall, breaking free while others remain embedded in its surface. Over time, the patina adds depth to the story of struggle, memory, and liberation. Sculpture by Zenos Frudakis.
🔗 Follow Zenos Frudakis on Instagram
4. The Mud Maid — Cornwall, UK
A sleeping woman sculpted from earth, moss, and plants lies beneath the trees in the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Created by Sue Hill, the sculpture changes with the seasons: lush green in spring, snow-covered in winter. More!: Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill (5 photos and video)
🔗 Follow Mud Maid on Facebook
5. The Hidden Melody — Milan, Italy
A child appears to push through a peeling concrete wall with a violin bow. The cracks themselves become the strings, transforming urban decay into a moment of performance. Artwork by Golsa Golchini. More by Golsa!: You Might Walk Past These—But They’re Tiny Masterpieces in Disguise
🔗 Follow Golsa Golchini on Instagram
6. Pavement Sundial
A painted clock face surrounds a metal pole on the sidewalk. Its shadow moves with the sun, turning an ordinary urban element into a functioning sundial that tracks time by design and decay.
7. Worn Bronze — Victor Noir’s Grave, Paris, France
Victor Noir’s grave in Père-Lachaise cemetery, created by Patrick Magaud in 1984, has gained fame not for Noir’s journalistic work but for the legend surrounding his death and burial site. Noir was a journalist shot dead, and his grave features a full-sized bronze statue of him lying down, as if recently shot. Over time, the statue became a fertility symbol. Legend has it that kissing the statue on the lips, leaving a flower in Victor’s hat, and rubbing the genital area enhances fertility, improves one’s sex life, or helps find a husband within a year. This has led to the lips and trousers’ bulge on the statue becoming noticeably shiny from repeated contact.
8. Vertical Garden — Madrid, Spain
A building façade is overtaken by a lush vertical garden designed by botanist Patrick Blanc. Over the years, hundreds of plant species have grown to cover the wall in waves of green, yellow, and pink. More photos!: Vertical Garden – By Patrick Blanc in Madrid and Paris
9. Radium – SHOK-1 in Le Locle, Switzerland
Painted with SHOK-1’s signature X-ray style, this glowing green mural shows a skeletal hand delicately drawing time with a pencil, its tip forming a clock shape. Located in the birthplace of Swiss watchmaking.
SHOK-1: This piece is about the tragic story of the Radium Girls, who suffered horribly with radiation poisoning from painting watch faces back in the 20s. I think we can still learn from it today as a narrative about the misuse of science by commerce, and of profit over people. I rendered it in the colour of radium watch lume, as if it were the dial glowing in the dark.
🔗 Follow SHOK-1 on Instagram
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
Which one is your favorite?
Playing With Statues (21 Photos)
Visitors around the world keep finding clever ways to turn public sculptures into something new — by joining in. From mountain bears to marble scenes, each moment captures humor, timing, and a little bit of improvisation.
More: Playing With Statues (26 photos)
1. Bear Hug
A cyclist lies across the arms of a standing bear statue, perfectly staged to look like a dramatic rescue in the wild.
2. Follow the Music
A small child joins a bronze sculpture of children following a violinist, becoming part of the playful parade.
3. Paper Storm
A woman leaps into the air as a statue swings a bat, sending her papers flying — captured at just the right second.
4. Caught by the Eagle
A man pretends to be snatched by a huge eagle sculpture, turning a dramatic scene into comedy gold. Gandalf summons you sir!
5. No Thanks
A hand holds a cigarette pack in front of a carved stone figure, perfectly aligned so it looks like the figure is raising a hand to refuse the offer.
6. The Force Push
A person jumps backward in front of a statue reaching forward, creating the illusion of an invisible force. Let the force be with you!
7. The Slap
A laughing bronze figure on a unicycle seems to slap a passerby in perfect comedic timing.
8. Group Effort
Friends recreate the composition of a dramatic marble sculpture, matching each pose in striking accuracy.
9. Trumpet Call
A man pretends to blast a trumpet into the ear of a crouching figure sculpture, freezing a moment of exaggerated reaction.
10. Hold My Hand
A small child joins a bronze family sculpture, pulling at the arm of the statue child as if part of the same stroll.
11. Old Whisper
A man stands close to a statue of an elderly figure, leaning in as the sculpture appears to tug on his shirt and whisper a secret.
12. The Late Disinfection
A worker in protective gear sprays down a classical-style statue in a modern city setting. The scene creates a humorous contrast between ancient history and present-day cleaning routines.
13. Bunny Line
A young child appears to join a line of sculpted rabbits, creating a seamless and charming illusion of waiting their turn.
14. Stone Slap
Caught mid-action, this classical statue seems to lash out at a woman reacting in mock pain, her hair and body frozen in dramatic motion.
15. Spider-Man Grabbed
A cosplayer dressed as Spider-Man stages a mock confrontation with a bronze statue, appearing to be caught mid-swing.
16. Railway Workers
A man places himself along a track sculpture in a way that makes it seem like he’s about to be hammered by a team of bronze workers.
17. Forged by the Smith
A visitor lies across a blacksmith statue’s anvil, humorously posing as if being hammered into shape.
18. Bear Hug
A mountain biker climbs into the arms of a bear statue, appearing to be dramatically cradled like a scene from a wilderness tale.
19. Whispered Secrets
In a tender illusion, a man leans in as if sharing a secret with a serene marble sculpture of a woman cupping her ear.
20. Razor Ready
A pink razor has been placed under the raised arm of a stone figure, making the statue appear to be mid-shave.
21. Synchronized Stride
A toddler unintentionally mimics the pose of a bronze statue child reaching forward, matching the group’s walking motion in perfect sync.More: Playing With Statues (23 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
Beautiful Moments When Nature and Art Became One (10 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From ivy-blanketed murals to sculptures woven from willow branches, these 10 artworks blur the line between nature and art. You’ll find a dreaming child merging into a hedgerow in Ecuador, a giant girl watering a real tree in Poland, and a sleeping forest maiden who changes with the seasons in Cornwall. Artists around the world are letting nature do more than surround their work—it’s becoming part of it.
More: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. When Street Art Meets Nature — Imbabura, Ecuador
A child sleeps peacefully against a concrete wall, painted with lifelike softness by El Decertor. Ivy draped across the mural seamlessly forms a textured blanket, and a teddy bear peeks from underneath the greenery.
🔗 Follow El Decertor on Facebook
2. Legend About Giants — Białystok, Poland
Painted by Natalia Rak, this towering mural features a young girl in traditional Polish dress gently watering a tree growing from the ground below. The tree aligns perfectly with her tilted watering can, turning the entire scene into a gentle urban myth.
More by Natalia Rak!: The Muralist Turning Walls Into Masterpieces
3. Caring Hand — Glarus, Switzerland
Carved by Eva Oertli & Beat Huber, five stone fingers emerge from the earth to cradle a growing tree, as if nature itself is being held by a giant underground guardian.
More photos here!: The Caring Hand – Sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber
4. Wendy! I’m Home
A large expressive face inside the hollow of a tree. The grain and curvature of the wood become part of the face, making it appear as though the tree is speaking or laughing.
5. Come into Light — Tulum, Mexico
Created by Daniel Popper, this monumental wooden sculpture of a human figure gently opens its chest to reveal a tunnel of living greenery. The work invites visitors to step inside and walk through the heart of nature.
🔗 Follow Daniel Popper on Instagram
6. Mud Maid — Cornwall, UK
This living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill lies in the woods of the Lost Gardens of Heligan. Covered in moss and ivy, it changes with the seasons, transforming from green and alive in summer to white and frozen in winter.
More about Mud Maid here!: Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill
7. Bougainvillea Crown — Corfu, Greece
On a wall in Paleokastritsa, an elegant face is painted alongside a flourishing bougainvillea. The artist positions the real branches as flowing floral hair, giving life and movement to the portrait.
8. Forest Archer — UK
Crafted by Anna & the Willow, this sculpture made entirely of woven willow shows a woman mid-draw with a bow and arrow. Set deep in a forest path, her flowing skirt and hair mimic the wind.
🔗 Follow Anna & the Willow on Instagram
9. Vertical Garden — Patrick Blanc in Madrid, Spain
French botanist and artist Patrick Blanc created this monumental vertical garden on the side of a building near the CaixaForum in Madrid. Covering the entire façade, it features hundreds of plant species arranged in layers of color and texture, turning the urban wall into a living ecosystem. More photos!: Vertical Garden – By Patrick Blanc in Madrid and Paris
10. Augere — Jon Foreman in Druidston, Wales
Stone sculpture arranged in spirals on the sand. Built from natural rocks found nearby, the piece changes shape with the tide. More!: Amazing Sculptures by Jon Foreman! (12 Photos)
🔗 Follow Jon Foreman on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
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)
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
Decertor
Decertor, Lima. 42 011 ember kedveli · 392 ember beszél erről. Muralista y pintor de Lima, Perú.www.facebook.com
Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill (5 photos and video)
Content warning: Sculptor Sue and Pete Hill The Mud Maid is a living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill created 1998 at Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall, England. Depending on the season, the mud maid’s ‘hair’ and ‘clothes’ change when the seasonal plan
Sculptor Sue and Pete Hill
The Mud Maid is a living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill created 1998 at Lost Gardens of Heligan, Pentewan, St.Austell, Cornwall, England. Depending on the season, the mud maid’s ‘hair’ and ‘clothes’ change when the seasonal plants and moss grow over the sculpture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TlG5SBmeE5s
What do you think about the Mud Maid?
Heligan Mud Maid enjoys a facelift
You may notice that the Mud Maid looks a little different on your next visit. One of her creators, Sue Hill, explains more.Acoustic Guitar 1 by Audionautix i...YouTube