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8 Optical Illusion Street Art Pieces That Play Tricks on Your Mind
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From giant beetles to teacups spilling off balconies, this curated collection showcases 8 stunning murals and street art illusions that masterfully interact with architecture, public space, and perspective. Created across different countries by artists with a gift for 3D realism and clever deception, these works blur the boundary between flat surfaces and the real world. You’ll find a swimming horse, a shape-shifting building façade, and a kitten curled up in the corner of a worn-out structure—each a visual surprise you’ll want to look at twice.
More birds!: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
“Tea Time” by Yip Yew Chong in Chinatown, Singapore
A man pours tea from a giant porcelain teapot into cups that appear to float down the side of a heritage building in Singapore’s Chinatown. Below, a woman hangs laundry as the stream flows past her, interacting with real architectural elements like windows and balconies.
About and more photos!: Look out for this uncle pouring tea from the third storey (15 Photos)
“Betta Fish” by Sébastien ‘Sweo’ and Nikita in Abbeville, France
A massive yellow betta fish bursts through a torn wall illusion, surrounded by floating turquoise blocks. The fish’s flowing fins and detailed textures create a powerful illusion of motion and depth.
🔗 Follow Sébastien ‘Sweo’ on Instagram 🔗 Follow Nikita on Instagram
“The Giant Beetle” by Odeith in Portugal
What was once a dome-shaped concrete structure is transformed into an enormous beetle crawling along the rooftop. The perspective only works from a specific angle, making it a classic example of Odeith’s anamorphic illusion mastery.
More by Odeith!: Master of Illusion!: 19 Jaw-Dropping 3D Graffiti Pieces by Odeith
“Horse in the River” by Nikolaj Arndt in Neustadt, Germany
This sidewalk chalk piece features a brown horse partially submerged in a realistic-looking pool of water, drawing in passersby. A woman is seen petting the horse, heightening the illusion of interaction.
🔗 Follow Nikolaj Arndt on Instagram
“Paint Roller” by Cosimo Cheone Caiffa in Milan, Italy
A man appears to be painting a real crosswalk using a roller in this mural. The hand, roller, and part of the arm extend out from the wall, creating the effect that the artwork continues into the street.
More!: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
🔗 Follow Cosimo Caiffa on Instagram
“It’s All About Perspective” by Shozy in Solnechnogorsk, Russia
This mural uses trompe-l’œil techniques to add impossible cube-like balconies to a flat wall. From the right vantage point, the building appears to have a complex 3D structure popping out of its surface.
See how he did it and from different angles!: Stunning Optical Illusion Mural by Shozy Changes the Way You See Street Art
“Sleeping Kitten” by WA in Lima, Peru
Painted across two columns and the ground, this mural of a curled-up kitten appears to be nestled into the corner of an old structure. Its soft colors and fuzzy fur enhance the realism.
“Purple Viper” by SCAF in Lorraine, France
A purple snake coils its way out of a damaged wall, its scales hyper-detailed and its eye locked on the viewer. A real person appears to be riding it in the image, intensifying the illusion of depth and danger.
More!: 26 Amazing 3D Paintings by SCAF!
These 8 illusion murals are more than just eye candy—they’re brilliant examples of how artists use public spaces as a canvas for creativity and deception. Whether it’s a teacup spilling over a wall or a snake springing from rubble, these works invite us to look again—and then look closer.
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?
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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.www.instagram.com
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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.www.instagram.com
Streets Into a Monster Movie (10 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From alleyways and abandoned walls to sea rocks and underpasses, these street art masterpieces could be mistaken for stills from horror, sci-fi, or fantasy films. This curated set features massive creatures, eerie presences, and surreal scenarios—all captured in public space with terrifying precision. Here’s how eight artists turned reality into cinema.
More: 14 Powerful Art Pieces Overflowing With Emotion
🧟 1. Grabbed by the Wall — Cheone in Nerviano, Italy
A massive painted figure emerges from the darkness under a bridge, stretching across two pillars to grasp at the real world. The person crawling in front adds to the illusion, making it feel like a scene from a supernatural thriller. More!: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
🔗 Follow Cheone on Instagram
🦈 2. Shark Attack — Jimmy Swift in Palolem Beach, Goa, India
A hyperrealistic white shark emerges vertically from the sea, painted directly onto a rock. On the right, two swimmers dramatically react, caught mid-scream, adding perfect timing to this movie-like scene. More: 10 photos – Graffiti Artist Jimmy Swift made White Shark out of beach rock
😱 3. Homer Transformed — DavidL in Barcelona, Spain
This warped, monstrous version of Homer Simpson features oversized eyes, dripping teeth, and a horrifying stare. Set in a decayed building, the donut-like tires stacked in front make it even more disturbing. More by DavidL!: 15 Surreal Graffiti Artworks!: From Cookie Monster to Zombie Homer
🔗 Follow DavidL on Instagram
🐝 4. The Bee Is Bigger Than You — By Odeith
A giant, realistic bee is painted on the wall of an empty industrial space. The artist appears to touch it with his brush, creating the illusion that the insect is physically present and ready to react. More!: 19 Jaw-Dropping 3D Graffiti Pieces by Odeith
🔗 Follow Odeith on Instagram
👤 5. Shadow Creature — By SCAF
A monstrous shadow creature is painted stretching from the artist’s feet onto the wall, with glowing red eyes and long clawed fingers. The real man calmly checks his phone—unaware of the beast behind him. More!: 26 Amazing 3D Paintings by SCAF!
🔗 Follow SCAF on Instagram
🐈 6. Smoke Cat on the Wall — By 0331c
A surreal black cat appears to be made of smoke, stretching up the entire height of a building. Its ominous presence towers above a passerby on the street below. More!: Street Art by 0331C – A Collection
🔗 Follow 0331c on Flickr
🐦 7. The Birds
Inspired by Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds, this stencil mural shows the director’s silhouette dissolving into a chaotic swarm of black birds. It captures suspense and fear with a single static image.
🐍 8. Riding the Snake — SCAF in Lorraine, France
A man appears to ride a massive purple serpent curling up from the ground. The detail in the creature’s scales, expression, and coiled pose turns the scene into a full-blown monster movie fantasy. More!: 26 Amazing 3D Paintings by SCAF!
🔗 Follow SCAF on Instagram
9. Charlie & the Kid — JR’s Mural in Paris, France
Using his signature wheat paste photo style, JR recreates an iconic moment from The Kid, with Charlie Chaplin and the boy peeking from behind a wall. The location—an exposed side of a brick building—makes the illusion striking.
🔗 Follow JR on Instagram
10. The Fisher Girl — Fabian Bane Florin’s Mural in Mons, Belgium
A girl sits peacefully in an orange-framed window, repairing fishing net, surrounded by large sunflowers. The warm light and soft expression create a quiet cinematic moment frozen in paint.
More by Fabian Bane Florin!: Amazing Murals by 3D Master Fabian Bane (7 Photos)
More: 11 Times I Found Street Art Cleverly Using Its Surroundings
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?
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3D Madness By Shozy! (5 Photos)
Content warning: Born in Moscow, Danila Shmelev—better known as Shozy—has spent over two decades bending urban reality with paint.
Born in Moscow, Danila Shmelev—better known as Shozy—has spent over two decades bending urban reality with paint. After studying at the Moscow Institute of Art & Industrial and training in classical techniques, he took his graffiti roots into the third dimension. Today, Shozy is best known for his striking 3D street art, where illusions of melted balconies, floating cubes, and warped towers appear on residential blocks from France to the Arctic Circle.
This post showcases six of his most compelling works: a wave crashing down a Soviet facade in Balashikha, a mirrored distortion in Paris, and a mesmerizing mural above the Arctic Circle in Salekhard, among others. From large-scale murals at international street art festivals to conceptual studio work, Shozy continues to explore light, volume, and realism in ways that stop people in their tracks.
Let’s take a closer look at how he’s reshaping cityscapes with nothing but illusion.
More: 14 Street Art 3D Masterpieces You Won’t Believe Are Real
The Wave Is Coming – Balashikha, Russia
This towering mural creates the illusion of a wave of balconies melting and crashing through the facade. The soft curves and distorted lines make the rigid architecture appear liquid and unstable, transforming the building into a sculptural cascade.
More photos and about: “The Wave Is Coming” by Shozy in Balashikha, Russia
Melted Facade – Paris, France
Painted on a tall residential block, this mural creates a mind-bending mirrored distortion that appears to collapse the middle of the building inward. Framed by a bold red outline, it manipulates light and geometry to make the wall ripple like a heatwave.
More photos and about: 3D Mural by Shozy in Paris, France
Anamorphic Mural – Solnechnogorsk, Russia
Part of the International Mural Festival in Solnechnogorsk, this illusion uses sharp angles and cubes to mimic balconies protruding into space. The effect plays with depth and shadow, creating fake extensions that seamlessly integrate into the building’s original layout.
More photos and about: Stunning Optical Illusion Mural by Shozy Changes the Way You See Street Art
Impossible Geometry – Salekhard, Russia
Located above the Arctic Circle, this mural plays with Escher-like geometry, appearing to remove parts of the building while extending impossible window boxes. Painted across a warm-toned facade, the illusion challenges viewers’ perception of dimension.
More photos and about: “Arctic circle house” by Shozy in Salekhard, Russia
Code of the Mountains – Derbent, Russia
On the wall of a residential building in Derbent, Shozy painted a symmetrical, abstract form inspired by local patterns and cosmic motifs. The soft gradient gives the illusion of depth, making the artwork appear like a three-dimensional glowing portal.
More photos and about: Mural by Shozy at in Derbent, Russia
More: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
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
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Welcome back to Instagram. Sign in to check out what your friends, family & interests have been capturing & sharing around the world.www.instagram.com
Time Moves in One Direction, Memory in Another (9 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From dreamlike illusions to philosophical street stencils, this collection explores how public art stretches, twists, and rewrites time itself. Featured works range from a clock being pulled through a brick wall in Australia to a White Rabbit in Mexico dressed for a mad tea party. You’ll see optical illusions, hand-painted sundials, and even a child dreaming against the ticking of an oversized alarm. These artists invite us to pause and consider how time shapes memory, urgency, and imagination.
More birds!: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Time Moves in One Direction, Memory in Another – Artist Daniel Arsham in New York, US
A photorealistic hand painted in grayscale appears to stretch a fabric-like wall around a real mounted clock, giving the illusion that the clock is being dragged backward through time. The piece blends trompe-l’œil realism with conceptual depth.
🔗 Follow Daniel Arsham on Instagram
2. White Rabbit – URZE & CHAD, Mexico City, Mexico.
This fantastical mural features a white rabbit with red-rimmed eyes, dressed in a patterned robe, holding a Roman numeral clock. Surrounded by gold and blue ornamental detailing, the scene clearly references Lewis Carroll’s time-obsessed rabbit.
🔗 Follow URZE on Instagram
3. 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
4. Alarm Clocks Kill Dreams
A minimal stencil in red spray paint on a yellow wall states, “alarm clocks kill dreams,” featuring a simple drawing of an alarm clock. A classic street slogan challenging our relationship with work and rest.
5. ORIGIN – ONUR in Le Locle, Switzerland
This ultra-realistic mural shows a man using a fine instrument to adjust tiny clockwork parts, which seamlessly blend into a painted landscape of a lake and mountains. A tribute to craftsmanship and time’s precision.
ONUR: Watchmakers visualize time and give it a picture. Le locle is the place where the cradle of this visualization of time lies. It was created, built and carried out into the world. The work „ORIGIN“ is not just a watchmaker who symbolically stands for care and consideration. It is also an homage to all people who build their home and their environment with great devotion and precision.
🔗 Follow ONUR on Instagram
6. Space and Time – Eduardo Relero in Bochum, Germany
Drawn directly onto the pavement in 3D illusion style, two surreal figures lie asleep on a bed made of oversized timepieces and gears. One of them clutches a meter-long alarm clock. A viewer poses on the bed, blending into the illusion.
🔗 Follow Eduardo Relero on Instagram
7. Street Sundial
This simple but clever intervention transforms a regular sidewalk pole into a functioning sundial. A half-clock face is painted on the ground, using the pole’s shadow to indicate time.
8. Love Plzeň – Chemis in Plzeň, Czech Republic
A giant child hugs a teddy bear while dreaming beneath a peeling painted wall. Above the child floats an alarm clock, painted as if it’s about to ring. The mural mixes realism with warm nostalgia, painted during the Wallz Festival. More photos here!
🔗 Follow Chemis on Instagram
9. Busy day at Stonehenge as the stones are moved forward one hour
Of course, no one is actually resetting Stonehenge for daylight saving time—but this real historical photo from the 1950s restoration efforts makes it look that way!
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
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ONUR on Instagram: "Swipe >> for some WIP pics and details. „ORIGIN“ Curated by @exomusee „Watchmakers visualize time and give it a picture. Le locle is the place where the cradle of this visualization of time lies. It was created, built and carried out
1,570 likes, 39 comments - onurpainting on June 3, 2021: "Swipe >> for some WIP pics and details. „ORIGIN“ Curated by @exomusee „Watchmakers visualize time and give it a picture.Instagram
Playing With Murals (10 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
These 10 cleverly positioned murals turn everyday passersby into part of the artwork. From chalk illusions on sidewalks to children mirroring painted doubles, this post explores street art made to be played with. Locations include Greece, Sweden, Malaysia, Ireland, and more.
More!: Playing With Statues (10 Photos)
1. Surprise Cake — Michael Tsinoglou in Naxos, Greece
A painted boy holds a cake while hiding around the corner, seemingly ready to surprise a passerby. The clean white backdrop of a Greek island alley helps the illusion blend into real life.
🔗 Follow Michael Tsinoglou on Instagram
2. Little Double — Andy Dice Davies in UK
A child wearing sunglasses and a star-patterned hoodie points at a mural of a girl in identical clothing and pose, as if encountering her cartoon twin.
🔗 Follow Andy Dice Davies on Instagram
3. Crocodile Rapids — Julian Beever in Charleston, USA
A man kneels on an inflatable raft placed over a chalk mural of a raging stream with a crocodile lurking below. The illusion pulls people into a moment of comic danger.
🔗 Follow Julian Beever on Instagram
4. Subway Stairs — Panya Clark Espinal in Toronto, Canada
A staircase painted on subway tiles and floor lines up with the angle of pedestrian movement, creating a surreal moment of walking between 2D and 3D space.
🔗 Learn more about Panya Clark Espinal
5. Frozen Rift — Edgar Mueller in Dun Laoghaire, Ireland
A massive 3D painting gives the illusion of a deep icy chasm cutting through the ground. Pedestrians playfully pose on the “edge,” adding tension and drama to their photos.
🔗 Follow Edgar Mueller on Instagram
6. Bridge Grab — Cosimo Caiffa & Mor Pavone in Nerviano, Italy
A gigantic figure painted under a bridge reaches around a concrete wall, seemingly trying to grab a person crawling below. More: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
🔗 Follow Cheone on Instagram
7. Bike Ride — Ernest Zacharevic in George Town, Malaysia
A famous mural of two children on a bicycle invites visitors to jump into the scene—running beside them or pretending to be pulled along. More great street art in George Town!: George Town’s Street Art Wonderland: 61 Stunning Murals You Must See in Penang!
🔗 Follow Ernest Zacharevic on Instagram
8. Cupid’s Swing — Millie Newitt & Tara Fowler in Tauranga, New Zealand
Two women sit on a swing installed in front of a mural of a forest canopy, with a painted angel aiming her arrow toward them.
9. Angel Wings
A mural of wide-spread wings is carefully placed so pedestrians walking by appear to suddenly grow feathers.
10. Mind Your Step — Erik Johansson in Stockholm, Sweden
At first glance, the entire plaza seems to sink into a hole. The photorealistic illusion makes visitors freeze or pose dramatically to “avoid falling in.”
🔗 Follow Erik Johansson on Instagram
More!: [b][url=https://streetartutopia.com/2025/05/05/playing-with-statues/]Playing with statues (25 photos)[/url][/b]
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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)
Which one is your favorite?
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Clever Art! (10 Photos)
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From a tree with googly eyes to a crumbling wall turned into a romantic moment, these artworks prove that creativity doesn’t always require a blank canvas. Across New York, Bulgaria, Seoul, and beyond, artists used cracks, plants, poles, staircases, and fences to build surprising and often funny interactions between art and reality. Scroll on for a playful, smart, and sometimes emotional collection of street art that responds to the world it’s painted into.
More: 11 Times I Found Street Art Cleverly Using Its Surroundings
1. The Snail Catcher
A hyper-realistic mural by Cheone of a young boy extends his arm through a broken wall, appearing to gently touch a real yellow-black striped pole where a snail is crawling. The integration is so precise it looks like he’s interacting with the snail mid-motion.
More: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
2. Floral Crown — OG Millie in New York, USA
A woman with soft, glowing skin and vivid green eyes is painted against a pastel circular background. Her painted hair seamlessly transforms into a lush explosion of real pink and purple flowers cascading from the wall.
More: Flower mural by OGMillie (5 photos)
3. Googly Tree — Bulgaria
A thick tree has grown around metal railings, forming a natural mouth shape. Someone added googly eyes above it, turning the tree into a funny face peering out over the water.
More: 16 Googly-Eyed Street Art Gems That I Love
4. Parkour Kid — Marek Looney Rybowski in Gdynia, Poland
A playful mural of a child in a cap and red sneakers is painted to appear as if he’s hanging from a concrete overhang, feet swinging in the air while a butterfly flutters nearby.
See the entire mural!: Mural by LOONEY in Gdynia, Poland (11 photos)
5. Koi Staircase — Ihwa Mural Village in Seoul, South Korea
A flight of urban stairs becomes a vibrant pond when painted with swimming koi fish in yellow, orange, and white, gliding against a deep blue background.
6. Rising Water — Banksy in London, UK
Spray-painted text reads “I DON’T BELIEVE IN GLOBAL WARMING,” with the lower words submerged beneath real water, making the message ironic and pointed.
More: “I Don’t Believe in Global Warming” by Banksy
7. Dancing Fence — Oakoak in France
A section of a metal fence has been bent to resemble a dancing couple. Two simple pink circle faces are added to enhance the illusion, giving the rusted structure a touch of romance.
More by Oakoak!: From Homer Simpson to Obelix: Oakoak’s Genius Street Art! (10 Photos)
8. Skull Wall — Suitswon in Brooklyn, New York, USA
A large, abandoned concrete structure with missing windows and overgrown vegetation has been painted into a realistic skull. The empty window spaces serve as eye sockets.
9. Crumbled Love
On a damaged wall in Leipzig (Germany), a crumbling patch becomes the body of a dog, painted kissing a woman. A heart floats above them, using decay to deliver tenderness.
10. Vertical Garden Street — Valparaíso, Chile
Plastic bottles are transformed into planters and attached to a wall painted as a colorful street of buildings, turning trash into greenery on a painted urban scene.
More: 9 Genius Street Artworks That Will Change How You See the City
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12 Times I Found Street Art Cleverly Using Its Surroundings
Street art can surprise, amuse, and captivate by turning everyday objects into clever visual puns. Today, I’m sharing 12 remarkable pieces from around the globe where artists creatively incorporated their urban environments into humorous and thoughtful artworks.
From cute sketches in cracks on walls to inventive interactions with poles, trees, and bushes, here are some of the cleverest street art examples I’ve encountered.More: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Natalia Rak’s mural in Białystok, Poland
This vibrant mural depicts a large-scale image of a girl carefully watering an actual tree growing next to the building, blending reality and art seamlessly.More: Natalia Rak: The Muralist Turning Walls Into Masterpieces
2. Pavel Puhov’s Street Art
Two large painted eyeglass frames drawn onto snow, humorously framing passersby as if they are wearing giant spectacles.More by Pavel!: Street Art by Pavel Puhov – A Collection (7 photos)
3. OakOak’s humorous wall art
A tiny caravan of camels painted on a cracked wall, cleverly using the crack to represent a desert landscape.
4. Playful Pipes in Leipzig, Germany
Street pipes creatively transformed into colorful legs wearing detailed socks and sneakers, adding playful character to ordinary fixtures.
5. Green Hairstyle Mural by Nuxuno Xän in Fort De France, Martinique
A mural realistically depicting a person using actual foliage as hair, humorously combing it with a painted comb.
6. Affectionate Dog in Olsztyn, Poland
Using chipped wall paint to create the dog’s body, this charming artwork shows a simple drawn dog lovingly sniffing a bird.
7.Loving Electrical Boxes in Olsztyn, Poland
Two electrical boxes humorously painted by Adam Okuciejewski and Szymon Czarnowski with eyes and arms, embracing each other warmly.
8. Le CyKlop Pillars in Paris
Street bollards colorfully painted to resemble animated cartoon characters, bringing lively cheerfulness to a street.More!: Le CyKlop Turning the Ordinary into One-Eyed Wonders
9. Leaning Tower of Pisa in Philadelphia, USA
A slanted street pole cleverly painted to resemble the Leaning Tower of Pisa, creatively transforming an everyday object.
10. Giant Hand by Dome in Karlsruhe, Germany
A large pillar under a bridge creatively painted by Dome as a giant hand, cleverly appearing to hold up the bridge.
11. Jonna Pohjalainen’s Colored Logs in Turku, Finland
Fallen tree logs artistically carved and painted by Jonna Pohjalainen to resemble giant colorful pencils, blending art and nature beautifully.
12. Accordion Boy
A small stencil of a child holding an accordion is painted around a real wall vent, cleverly using the metal grate as the instrument.More: 11 Brilliant Bird Murals That Bring Nature to the Streets
Which one is your favorite?