Content warning: This set brings together 8 pieces that use humor, surprise, and simple visual tricks to change ordinary spaces. A pigeon statue crowns the Duke of Wellington monument in Glasgow, a girl with bubbles rises across a tower in Long Beach, and a giant cat appe
This set brings together 8 pieces that use humor, surprise, and simple visual tricks to change ordinary spaces. A pigeon statue crowns the Duke of Wellington monument in Glasgow, a girl with bubbles rises across a tower in Long Beach, and a giant cat appears to crawl from under a brick arch in Cheltenham. Painted shadows, googly-eye interventions, a Janis Joplin portrait in Texas, a staged moment with a stone sculpture, and a snowman-shaped mailbox complete the selection.
1. What if you can chase dream as you chase bubbles — Brian Peterson in Long Beach, USA
A tall mural of a girl holding a bubble wand, surrounded by floating bubbles. The piece uses layered colors and light reflections to give depth to her face and hair.
2. Cat Under the Bridge — Andy Dice Davies in Cheltenham, UK
A large cat is painted beneath a brick archway, positioned as if emerging toward the viewer. The mural features wide eyes, detailed fur, and an extended paw reaching forward. The surrounding foliage and brickwork frame the illusion.
Andy Dice Davies: this is a painting of my actual cat and that’s my son in the picture! Its in Cheltenham at Little Herberts Nature Reserve. As soon as I saw the line of black bricks I had to paint this!
3. Monster Shadow — Damon Belanger in Redwood City, USA
Damon Belanger paints playful “fake shadows” across the streets, like this bench whose shadow transforms into a friendly monster. His works make passersby look twice and smile. More!: Funny Fake Shadows! (20 Photos)
A tree squeezed between metal bars is given googly eyes and a stump nose, turning a natural deformity into a goofy, expressive character grinning at passersby. More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)
5. Janis Joplin — Paola Sire in San Antonio, Texas
A mural of Janis Joplin wearing round pink glasses and colorful accessories, with bright tones in her hair and clothing emphasizing her lively expression.
6. The Duke of Wellington Pigeon — The Rebel Bear in Glasgow, Scotland
A bronze pigeon stands on top of the equestrian statue, holding a newspaper and wearing a small traffic cone. The added sculpture plays on the city’s long tradition of decorating the monument with cones.
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. More: Playing With Statues (23 photos)
8. Snowmail — (Location Unknown)
A snow sculpture shaped around a mailbox, giving it the appearance of a shouting or surprised snowman with stick arms and painted facial features. More!: Snow is fun! (35 photos)
From cats playing with street lamps in Northern Ireland to a little girl joining bronze children in a park, these clever and playful works of public art were designed to make passersby smile. Here’s a collection of murals, interventions, and sculptures that brighten with imagination and humor.
1. Cats Mural — Woskerski in Larne, Northern Ireland
A mural of two ginger cats, one sitting and the other reaching up toward a real lamp post, painted on the side of Ruby’s Bodega. The artwork blends with the streetlight, turning it into a toy for the cats. More!: 9 Times WOSKerski Made UK Walls Feel Like Glitches in Reality
A playful piece featuring R2-D2 holding flowers and a heart, placed next to a trash can as if giving it a gift. The design transforms the mundane into a humorous Star Wars-inspired scene.
4. Fake Shadows — Damon Belanger in Redwood City, California, USA
A shadow painted on the pavement shows a mailbox transformed into a dinosaur-like creature with teeth, reimagining the ordinary form in a surprising way. More!: Funny Fake Shadows! (20 Photos)
6. Googly-Eye Bollards — Vanyu Krastev in Bulgaria
Concrete street bollards with cracks and added googly eyes transformed into playful characters resembling Pac-Man figures along the sidewalk. More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)
7. Nadine and the Last Autumnal Swimmer — David Zinn in Ann Arbor, USA
A chalk drawing shows a small green creature swimming in a tiled pool hidden in a square of pavement among fallen autumn leaves, with a mouse perched on the ledge. More!: Beautiful Autumn By David Zinn! (9 Photos)
A child in a pink dress joins hands with bronze statues of children following a violinist, blending real life with sculpture in a park setting. More!: Playing With Statues (25 photos)
9. Pipe Shoes
Street pipes painted with chalk outlines of colorful shoes, turning the fittings into playful legs against the wall.
10. Flamingo Meter — Tom Bob in Massachusetts, USA
A derelict brick structure given large eyes and an open mouth painted around existing openings, turning the building into a character. More!: 17 Times Nikita Nomerz Brought Walls to Life
12. The Light Is All Around — Endo in Čačak, Serbia
Painted around a streetlamp, this mural shows an elderly man smiling and holding the lamp as if it’s a glowing staff. The golden light and warm tone enhance the friendly character’s presence. More photos here!
Content warning: Some public signs tell you where to go or what to do. These ones? They play with expectations. From witty chalkboards and absurd flyers to poetic instructions and signs that lead nowhere, these 20 messages prove that a little humor or mystery goes a long
Some public signs tell you where to go or what to do. These ones? They play with expectations. From witty chalkboards and absurd flyers to poetic instructions and signs that lead nowhere, these 20 messages prove that a little humor or mystery goes a long way in urban spaces.
A simple handwritten flyer reads “Love.” with an invitation: “(Take as much love as you need).” The tear-off tabs just say “LOVE.”
2. Lost My Brain
A satirical lost-and-found flyer features a red anatomical brain diagram and a caption: “Please don’t contact me, I’m happy.”
3. Bar Scene on a No Entry Sign
A creative modification of a no-entry traffic sign transforms the white bar into a bar counter. Three stick figures have been drawn onto the sign—one sitting on a bar stool holding a martini glass, chatting with two others standing beside the “counter.” This humorous intervention turns an ordinary traffic sign into a social vignette.
4. No King
5. Sleeping Bat Warning
Sign on a bookshop door says “Please open the door carefully as there is a bat sleeping on it,” with a real bat sleeping by the doorframe.
A wooden sign beneath a tree offers: “Dog Library. Take a stick. Leave a stick.” The pile of branches says it all.
8. Have You Seen This Dog?
Two dog photos and the words: “Have you seen this dog?” Below: “Now you have. Have a GOOD day.” The tear-tabs? “Have a great day.”
9. Please Do Not Smile — New York City Subway, USA
Posted at 14th Street Station: “Please do not smile at strangers.” Whether real or a prank, it’s coldly hilarious.
10. Private Sign
Painted in bold white letters: “PRIVATE SIGN — DO NOT READ.” Naturally, it’s irresistible.
11. The Secret of Happiness
Painted across a long building, the message begins: “The secret of happiness is t—” and then the rest has peeled away.
12. Reboot Universe
At first glance, a standard pedestrian crossing button. But instead of “PUSH TO CROSS,” it reads: “REBOOT UNIVERSE.”
13. Beware of Smartphone Zombies
A modern caution sign warns: “BEWARE OF SMARTPHONE ZOMBIES,” with silhouettes of people walking while staring at their phones.
14. No Don Quixote
A traffic-style sign bans a rider on a horse with a lance—clearly referencing Don Quixote. Behind it: a real windmill.
15. Great Wheat Sharks — Anne Melady in Ontario, Canada
Shark fins appear to slice through a golden wheat field along Highway 8 west of Dublin, Ontario. Installed by 75-year-old landowner and retired nurse Anne Melady, the piece is titled Great Wheat Sharks. She created it to lighten the mood for drivers during the pandemic and continues the now-local tradition with humor and simplicity.
A flyer with the face of Lionel Richie and the lyrics from his hit song “Hello” is posted on a utility pole. The bottom of the flyer includes tear-off tabs, each printed with a different lyric fragment, playfully inviting passersby to take one. The setup mimics a typical “lost and found” poster but twists it into a street-level pun.
17. Kingdoms to Countries
On a pub chalkboard: “A long time ago we had Empires run by Emperors. Then we had Kingdoms run by Kings. Now we have Countries…”
18. Accompanied by an Adult
The sign boldly says: “All Americans must be accompanied by an adult.” No context. No problem.
19. Cigarette bin that doubles as a voting booth…
and a political roast all in one. People walk by, chuck in a butt, and suddenly it’s not just litter — it’s democracy with extra sass.
20. The Japanese text (ネコ飛出し注意) translates to “Watch out for jumping cats” or more literally “Caution: Cats dashing out”.
It’s a local road sign sometimes put up in Japanese neighborhoods where there are many stray or outdoor cats. The flying-cat graphics are just a playful way to show that cats might suddenly run across the street, so drivers should slow down and be careful.
Sometimes the best repairs don’t come from the city—they come from artists with a sense of humor and a sharp eye for flaws worth fixing. In this collection, utility boxes, potholes, and cracked concrete all get unexpected upgrades. From David Zinn’s chalk creatures running a waffle business to a derelict bus stop turned into The Simpson’s living room, these clever interventions take broken, boring, or overlooked spots and turn them into moments of delight.
A damaged triangle of pavement beneath a street pole is transformed into a precise, colorful mosaic pattern of tiles, circles, and squares. The once-forgotten gap is now a geometric burst of color. More!: Repairing Streets with Artful Mosaics (14 Photos)
This altered street sign turns the white bar of a “No Entry” into a minimalist bar counter. Three stick figures sit and chat over drinks, suddenly making the sign feel like a neighborhood hangout.
A chalk possum pours batter into a sewer cover, reimagined as a waffle iron. A squirrel assists while the metal lid leans open like a kitchen appliance. Street flaws become the setup for a surreal breakfast. David Zinn’s caption: Later that day, Clem and Stuart’s new business venture hit a rough patch when they learned that waffle makers need to be plugged in.
5. Tree with a Face — By Vanyu Krastev in Bulgaria
A tree squeezed between metal bars is given googly eyes and a stump nose, turning a natural deformity into a goofy, expressive character grinning at passersby. More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)
Painted on a brick wall, Homer Simpson appears to be getting electrocuted by a real utility box and cables. His panicked expression and pose sync perfectly with the tangled wires.. More!: Oakoak’s Genius Street Art! (10 Photos)
A crumbling brick wall gets patched with multicolored LEGO pieces, creating a jarring but playful contrast. The plastic bricks follow the angles of the damaged area with surprising precision. More!: Repairing the World with LEGO (10 Photos)
An eroded wall corner is filled with real books, their spines carefully arranged to mimic bricks. The unexpected material creates a moment of curiosity on an otherwise worn-down street.
9. Band-Aid Crack Fix
A black-and-white photo captures a child sitting on the ground, gently applying band-aids to a long crack in the pavement. Real-world damage becomes part of the narrative in this touching setup.
10. The Mystery Machine by Oakoak
In this playful transformation, French street artist Oakoak breathes new life into an old, overgrown van by turning it into Scooby-Doo’s iconic Mystery Machine. What was once a forgotten vehicle hidden under vines now sparks nostalgia and smiles, perfectly blending pop culture with urban decay.
Content warning: From clever poses to unexpected interactions, these playful moments show how people bring humor and life to public sculptures. Street art isn’t always painted — sometimes, it’s performed. More: Playing With Statues (22 photos) 1. Sharing the Bench A visit
From clever poses to unexpected interactions, these playful moments show how people bring humor and life to public sculptures. Street art isn’t always painted — sometimes, it’s performed.
Public sculptures might be made of stone and metal, but in these clever photos, they come alive. From perfectly timed reactions to staged comedy and emotional mimicry, these 22 playful interactions between people and statues remind us how imagination can turn ordinary spaces into hilarious or heartfelt scenes.
A stone cherub reaches out to a man who reacts in mock terror, making it look like the statue has come alive and is launching an ambush.
2. Roundhouse Kick
A woman times a kick to appear as if she’s knocking a waterfront statue off balance.
3. Deep Thoughts
Mimicking a seated statue’s pensive posture, a woman makes a dramatic thinking face, playing along with the sculpture’s pose.
4. Tug of War
A child appears to tug on the arm of a bronze child statue, creating the illusion of a struggle between real and sculpted friends.
5. Surprise Uppercut
A statue’s arm lines up perfectly with a boy’s face as he leaps in the air, making it seem like he’s just been hit.
6. Bunny Rescue
A toddler hugs the last rabbit in a sculpted line of bronze bunnies, adding a sweet human moment to a whimsical scene.
7. A Kiss From Mozart
A street performer dressed as Mozart leans forward and kisses a visitor’s hand in a moment of old-world charm.
8. Merlion Hydration
A man lines his mouth under the Merlion’s fountain stream, appearing to drink from the iconic statue.
9. Office Home Run
A man throws his papers in the air as a statue of a baseball player appears to bat them out of the park
10. Double Lift
A woman and a statue both lift babies into the air in perfect sync, creating a heartwarming mirrored moment.
11. Last in Line
A young boy with a backpack stands between bronze statues of children, blending seamlessly into the sculpted queue.
12. Sad Together
A little girl in a red dress mirrors the hunched, pensive posture of a nearby bronze sculpture in a park, echoing the same emotional state.
13. Story Time With Hans
Four adults interact with a statue of Hans Christian Andersen and his duck, posing as if they’re being read a story.
14. Soda Talk
A man sits on a bench sharing a soda and snack with a statue, captured mid-conversation.
15. Group Chat
A man shows something on his phone to two bronze statues, making it look like they’re having a casual chat.
16. Ignored Again
A man tries to get the attention of a statue on a seaside bench who dramatically looks away with a hand on her chin.
17. Flying Kick
A man balances on top of a sculpture and performs a flying kick into one of the statue’s faces.
18. Office Home Run
A woman pretends to whisper a secret into the ear of a classical marble statue posed as if listening.
19. Tug of Sniff
In a two-frame sequence, a real dog joins a bronze sculpture of a tug-of-war scene, sniffing the metal dog at the end of the line. The moment blends reality and art perfectly, turning a static piece into a living tableau.
20. Perfect Timing — Target Field in Minneapolis, USA
A bronze baseball player is mid-swing, and a boy positions himself so the bat lines up perfectly with his face, creating the illusion that he’s getting hit.
21. Titan Lunch — Attack on Titan Park Installation, Japan
A giant Titan head sculpture from the anime Attack on Titan shows a wide-open mouth with massive teeth, while several people pose inside its hand, staged as if they’re about to be eaten.
22. High Five
A man jumps mid-air toward a seated statue of a woman with her hand raised, producing the perfect freeze-frame high five.
23. Flying
Whether silly or sweet, these interactions breathe new life into public sculptures. When people play with statues, the result is often spontaneous art.
Dornach | The Goetheanum is known for its unique and fascinating architecture. It was built in 1913 and 1928 after the original Goetheanum was destroyed by fire. The architect Rudolf Steiner himself designed the building and used organic forms and natural materials such as wood and concrete.
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Many years ago a photographer loaned this cheap adapter to me, and I haven't given it back yet. When you pair it with a 20mm lens you get nearly a 180° FoV, which was a lot of fun back before the pandemic. I changed to mirrorless, and never got around to buying the cheap adapter to get it to fit to my new 20mm lens until now. I'm gonna try some waterfalls and flowers and see what I can do with it. #StreetPhotography #photography #fisheye #utrawide #ridonkulous
I've been busying myself a bit with #ethics of #StreetPhotography lately, in particular concerning people being recognisably featured in them. I usually try to avoid catching people in my shots or try to picture them in a way that they're not recognisable. On the other hand, when I took this picture here (yes I know it's not the best edit, additionally I still had the CPL mounted which could've very well ruined the whole shot), I tasted blood. I was lucky it was such an (objectively) easy and rewarding encounter. I saw him, decided the scene's really just worth it to battle my social anxieties and ask that man if it was okay to take a picture of him. He happily agreed, just because I was one of a handful out of maybe a hundred or more who ever cared to actually ask. My adrenaline levels were through the roof and I literally was on the brink of crying after that... show more
I've been busying myself a bit with #ethics of #StreetPhotography lately, in particular concerning people being recognisably featured in them. I usually try to avoid catching people in my shots or try to picture them in a way that they're not recognisable. On the other hand, when I took this picture here (yes I know it's not the best edit, additionally I still had the CPL mounted which could've very well ruined the whole shot), I tasted blood. I was lucky it was such an (objectively) easy and rewarding encounter. I saw him, decided the scene's really just worth it to battle my social anxieties and ask that man if it was okay to take a picture of him. He happily agreed, just because I was one of a handful out of maybe a hundred or more who ever cared to actually ask. My adrenaline levels were through the roof and I literally was on the brink of crying after that - partly out of being proud I decided to overcome my anxieties, partly out of relief for righteously being able to leave the situation again without it being awkward, partly out of self-hate for being so fucked up I have issues with such trivial things as asking a stranger a truly simple thing, partly about the story told by that, how terrible we as a society treat homeless people that I get so much gratitude from him simply by asking permission, thus showing at least a minimal set of respect from one human being to another.
To get to the point, I came to realise ethics - at least as far as street and urban photography is concerned - aren't so much a matter of law or legality, but primarily a matter of decency and mindset. And it's something I need to sort with myself before I can go out and portray people like in that shot of mine. I have to become clear on things like where I stand in relation to my subject, if I'm an external "documenter", if I see myself as "same kin" and if that's actually true or I'm committing cultural appropriation, if it's okay to buy myself out of responsibility by giving the guy a tenner just because I can. Those are questions no one can answer for anybody but themselves.
Unfortunately I HAVE to work out my own answers to these questions, because there's such a rich treasure of emotions buried in that box - if not in the pictures then for myself while taking them. But no matter how good of a street portrait I might take in the future, this will always be special and probably my richest treasure because of all the emotions it triggered with me and how it forces me to define how I see myself while taking pictures.
