Search
Items tagged with: streetArtMessages
Morley’s Street Art (106 Photos)
Content warning: Street Artist Morley This is an interview with the Los Angeles (California, USA) based artist Morley and some of his street art. 1. When, how and why did you become an artist? The sort of cheesy but true answer is that I believe we’re all born artists but
Street Artist Morley
This is an interview with the Los Angeles (California, USA) based artist Morley and some of his street art.
1.
When, how and why did you become an artist?
The sort of cheesy but true answer is that I believe we’re all born artists but at some point we let the world convince us otherwise.
The more practical answer is that I’ve been passionate my whole life about telling stories and self expression and when I moved from Iowa (where I was raised) to New York as a film student to attend the School of Visual Arts, I was exposed to a whole range of different art forms that I hadn’t explored before, which was a huge inspiration.
New York is of course known for its street art and discovering an art form that didn’t require a ton of money or permission was alluring. I started making stickers at first and then it expanded from there.
2.
How do you see your role as an artist today?
I would say that my role as an artist is to offer the relief that comes in discovering that you are not alone in how you feel- the joys and the sadness, the triumph and the tragedy.
Knowing that another person shares in how you feel and can find words, visuals, sound, movements, (etc.) to capture it, explore it and come a little closer to understanding it is a kind of communion between us all.
It can also help us understand perspectives that we are not familiar with, and build empathy. These are pretty vital things in life and being part of that experience is all I’ve ever aspired to.
3.
How would you describe your working method?
I try to find something I think or feel that I’d like to see if I was leaving work after a long day or just trying to keep my chin up- and see if I can express it in as concise a way as possible.
The kind of message you can read if you’re driving past it at 25 miles per hour. If I can pack a big idea into only a few words I’ve succeeded. Then I use those words along a drawing of myself because I want them to be coming from another person- someone as unglamorous and real as they are.
I want to offer words from a friend, a comrade, someone who shares the trenches with them. Then I print these out and look for the best environments to paste them into.
4.
5.
Can you name some contemporary works of art or projects that inspire you?
There’s a ton of great artists that I love but a few I’m particularly inspired by at the moment are the various public installations by Michael Pederson, the newest album by Lucy Dacus and the cartoons of Ross Bryant.
6.
5. How can artists be paid for their work and at the same time maintain a critical attitude towards the commercial art market and public funding partners?
I’m not sure I’d be able to answer for anyone but myself. I think the trick is to stay keenly aware of your personal convictions- what matters to you, what feels important- when you don’t have anyone trying to pay you for your work.
If money starts finding its way to you- keep your convictions close and try to only compromise if you’ve given real thought and consideration. To me, the only real way to sell out is if you abandon what matters to you. What that looks like can’t be defined by anyone but you.
7.
What would you like to change in the street art world?
The backbiting is a real drag. I wish we all supported each other in the scene more. I understand a bit of drama from time to time but it serves no purpose to spend your time fighting with another artist. I make art for people who aren’t familiar with the politics of the street art community and I wish more artists felt the same.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
90.
91.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
106.
More: Joyful Street Art (35 Photos)
Which is your favorite?
Street Art by Happiness Maker David Zinn (21 Photos)
Chalk Artist David Zinn
David Zinn is a street artist known for transforming ordinary urban landscapes into imaginative worlds. Based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Zinn has been creating street art since the 1980s. His medium of choice is chalk, which perfectly capturing the fleeting nature of street art.Zinn’s creations often feature playful creatures, such as his well-known character Sluggo—a green monster with endearing eyes—and a flying pig named Philomena. These characters are typically placed in unexpected settings, interacting with real-world objects in surprising ways that challenge viewers’ perceptions and bring joy to public spaces.
David Zinn’s work is characterized by its blend of whimsy, humor, and a masterful use of the urban canvas, making everyday scenes magical and inviting passersby to stop and ponder, or smile.
More by David Zinn: Cuteness overload! Chalk Art by David Zinn (6 photos)
Tragically or luckily, Ethan has lost count of his petals
Life lessons from augmented pareidolia the first yo is given, but the second yo is earned
Sibling Pep Talk
Jeremy’s First Lair
Nadine Listens to the Grapevine
Reading is Enflowering
Bernice is easily the most intimidating dodgeball player for her size
Chloe is 95% Burmese and 5% Fescue
Fly-by-night Impossibility
Fran’s summer hairstyle is 100% natural with very healthy roots
Lily can’t decide if she’s an understood overachiever or an overstood underachiever; either way, she’s making a lot of progress.
Looks like another long day of things stubbornly refusing to be impossible
Low altitude impossibilities at the Sideways Flying R
Marv learned this look from the puppy next door; he’s hoping your pocket is full of flies
Nadine and the Hydrophobic Frog
Nadine and the Silent Standoff
Philomena is a big fan of escapist literature
Philomena likes to start her days by watching for the second most impossible thing to happen
Rosie has an excellent sense of smell, which is why she always carries an olfactory support flower
Summer mood Angus will concede to flowers on his shirts and umbrellas in his drinks, but that’s where he draws the line
This message brought to you by the Underfoot Arts Council and a philanthropic hole in the ground
More!: Whimsical Wonders: 7 Enchanting Chalk Artworks by David Zinn
What do you think about the chalk art by David Zinn? Do you have a favorite?
Street Art by David Zinn
Online store and information hub for the street art of ephemeral sidewalk chalk artist David Zinn, known for his cheerful 3D (three-dimensional) creatures including the stalk-eyed monster Sluggo, flying pig Philomena, and adventurous mouse Nadine.street art by david zinn
Ross Bryant (@rossbb) • Instagram photos and videos
56K Followers, 1,140 Following, 1,870 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Ross Bryant (@rossbb)instagram.com
10 Street Messages That Hit Harder Than Headlines (Political Graffiti Edition)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From brutal truths spray-painted on walls to cleverly subverted bus stop ads, this collection of graffiti, stickers, and rogue billboards captures a wave of unrest, sarcasm, and resistance sweeping through public spaces. Anonymous artists challenge billionaires, late-stage capitalism, and societal complacency—reminding us that the streets are still speaking.
More like this!: Speak Truth to Power?: 32 Photos Of Real Talk Graffiti
“If You Can Afford to Send Katy Perry to Space” – Near Amazon’s HQ in London, UK
This modified JCDecaux billboard near St Leonard’s Hospital features Jeff Bezos laughing beside Katy Perry in a space suit, with bold black text reading: “If you can afford to send Katy Perry to space, you can afford to pay more taxes.” A direct and humorous critique of tax inequality and billionaire extravagance. By this artist collective.
“Consume, Be Silent, Die”
Graffiti mimicking a television frame spells out: “Consume, be silent, die,” dripping with black spray paint. Two children pose beneath it—one seated, the other stretching out their arms—turning the critique into an unsettling yet playful scene of youth against indoctrination.
“The Only Dangerous Minority Is the Rich”
This bold sticker pasted on a tagged utility box cuts through the noise with pure typographic protest. The statement plays on language often used against marginalized groups and flips it toward economic power structures.
“Poverty Exists…”
A handmade sign on the back of a pickup truck declares: “Poverty exists not because we can’t feed the poor, but because we can’t satisfy the rich.” The words are painted in bold, uneven lettering—raw, mobile, and unforgettable.
“Do You Believe in Life After Work?”
A twist on the classic Cher lyric, this minimal spray-painted message on a concrete wall invites a deep reflection on the meaning of freedom and the trap of wage labor.
“Make Humans Great Again”
With a cheeky nod to political slogans, this graffiti flips nationalist messaging into a call for compassion. The scrawled heart at the bottom softens the bold declaration.
“The Cost of Freedom”
This text-only piece reads: “The cost of freedom has never been so expensive,” neatly painted on a white billboard frame. The stark, all-black lettering amplifies the message’s weight.
“You Are Closer to the Street…”
This sharp sidewalk commentary reminds passersby: “You are closer to the street than you will ever be to any billionaire.” Written in white marker on a discarded fridge, it turns garbage into truth-telling.
“Do Not Panic, Organize”
This stenciled mural uses visual metaphor: small black fish are shown forming the shape of a giant fish about to consume a larger lone predator. Message: “Do not panic—organize.” A call for collective action.
“We’re All in the Same Boat” – Artwork by Banksy in Lowestoft, UK
Painted under a bridge, three children dressed as explorers peer out from a makeshift paper boat. The phrase “We’re all in the same boat” adds layers of irony, highlighting economic and environmental vulnerability.
More by Banksy!: 24 artworks by Banksy: Who Is The Visionary of Street Art?
“All Americans Must Be Accompanied by an Adult”
A chalkboard menu sign delivers a sarcastic jab at American political culture. Written in casual, café-style handwriting, the joke lands hard—and fast.
From cheeky bar signs to high-impact guerrilla billboards, these street-level commentaries reveal a shared frustration with the global status quo. Anonymous artists around the world are reclaiming public space to raise difficult questions—and they’re not asking nicely.
More: 10 Ultimate Life Hacks in Street Art
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
Make Life Beautiful? (11 Photos)
Content warning: From biting political critiques to clever wordplay, here are 10 sharp graffiti messages that hit harder than headlines.
From brick walls to sidewalks and dumpsters, these pieces of graffiti deliver unapologetic truths in just a few words. Across the U.S. and Europe, artists and anonymous voices turn public space into protest space—sharpening their messages with wit and irony. In this collection: capitalism is mocked, billionaires are brought down to scale, and imagination replaces nationalism.
More: 12 Times I Found Street Art Cleverly Using Its Surroundings
1. The Earth Without Art
Spray-painted along a corridor wall, this piece highlights the word “art” hidden within “earth,” playing on language to stress its value. Without art, it reminds us, earth is just “eh.”
2. Hear No Truth, See No Truth
A twist on the “three wise monkeys,” this wall shows chimpanzees blinded, deafened, and silenced by money—dollar bills covering eyes, ears, and mouth. A critique of corruption and greed.
3. We Are More Creative
Written in chalk or faded white paint, this street message reads: “We are more creative than a two party system.” A quiet but cutting critique of political stagnation.
4. The Only Good Nation — Wall Graffiti in Greece
Painted under a street sign in Crete, this reads: “The only good nation is IMAGINATION.” A poetic statement turning nationalism on its head.
5. Trump Tower
A public toilet labeled “Trump Tower” using spray paint delivers fast, raw satire. Political insult with perfect placement.
6. The Media Cycle
Written in chalk or paint, the message reads: “NEWS: Rich people paying rich people to tell middleclass people to blame poor people.” A clear attack on media and class dynamics.
7. Dangerous Minority
A sticker on a street pole states: “THE ONLY DANGEROUS MINORITY IS THE RICH.” A minimalist message printed in bold capital letters.
8. Closer to the Street
Chalked or painted on a discarded fridge: “You are closer to the street than you will ever be to any billionaire.” A bitter truth drawn from daily life.
9. Do Not Panic
A stencil mural of a large fish about to eat small ones—until the small fish organize into one big fish. Message: Don’t panic. Organize.
10. What Makes Life Beautiful
A handwritten poster taped to a lime-green wall reads: “Everything that makes this life beautiful is being destroyed by rich people.” The line is paired with a green butterfly, adding contrast between fragility and blame.
11. The Psychos — By Loretto in London, UK
A stencil piece portrays Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong-un as members of a punk band called “The Psychos.”
More: Playing With Statues (9 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