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Art That Grows From the Earth (9 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From quiet forest goddesses to surreal illusions that blend wood, stone, and trees—these 9 outdoor sculptures don’t just sit in nature, they become part of it. In this collection, you’ll discover sculptures in Illinois and Switzerland, on Belgian lawns and British gardens. Some hold trees gently in their palms, others appear to rest beneath layers of snow. All of them invite us to see the land as canvas, collaborator, and living presence.
More: 8 Inspiring Sculptures Seamlessly Integrated with Nature
1. Hallow — Daniel Popper’s Sculpture in Lisle, Illinois, USA
A monumental female figure made of wood-like textures stands with closed eyes and hands gently parting her chest. The sculptural body is open at the center, allowing viewers to walk through her, as though being embraced by nature itself. Springtime trees and blooming pink flowers surround her.
More: 5 Photos of Sculpture “Hallow” By Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
2. Mud Maid — Sculpture by Sue Hill in Cornwall, UK
This moss-covered figure of a woman rests on the forest floor at The Lost Gardens of Heligan. Her face is sculpted from clay and softened by time, while her hair and body are formed from earth and living plants, changing with the seasons—from green to snow-covered.
More: Mud Maid – Living sculpture by Sue and Pete Hill (5 photos and video)
3. Give — Lorenzo Quinn’s Sculpture Holding a Tree
Two white sculpted hands emerge from the grass, gently cupping a living tree. The hands appear soft despite their size, turning the act of holding into a symbol of care and responsibility.
4. Clothespin — Mehmet Ali Uysal’s Sculpture in Chaudfontaine, Belgium
A giant wooden clothespin appears to pinch and pull the ground itself. Cleverly designed and installed in a grassy field, the sculpture creates the illusion that the land is a soft fabric being gathered and held.
🔗 Follow Mehmet Ali Uysal on Instagram
5. Caring Hand — Eva Oertli & Beat Huber in Glarus, Switzerland
This large white hand sculpture gently cradles a tree in the middle of a lush green park. With careful shaping and scale, the sculpture blends seamlessly into its surroundings, turning a simple tree into the heart of a nurturing gesture.
More: The Caring Hand – Sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland by Eva Oertli and Beat Huber
6. I’m Home!
This painted face, embedded directly onto the exposed heart of a tree, transforms bark into canvas. The artwork is visible only within a natural wound in the trunk, where the human face seems both protected and revealed by the tree itself.
7. UMI — Daniel Popper’s Sculpture in Chicago, Illinois, USA
A towering woman, constructed with intertwined “roots” and gentle hands, emerges from the ground. Her chest and hair are woven with wooden tendrils, making her appear as if she’s grown from the soil beneath her.
More: “UMI” Sculpture by Daniel Popper in Lisle, Illinois
8. Flower Tube
A sculpture of a paint tube lies on the grass, appearing to squeeze out a trail of vivid orange marigolds.
9. Musco — Minwear Woods, Wales
In the heart of Minwear Woods, leaves, moss, and soil become canvases for land artist Jon Foreman. More!: 10 Forest Sculptures By Jon Foreman
🔗 Follow Jon Foreman on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Buildings That Look Like They’re From a Dream (8 Photos)
From a church in Iceland that looks like a spaceship preparing for launch, to a house zipped open on a street in Milan — this collection showcases architecture at its most imaginative. Included are cliffside wartime refuges, storybook cottages, optical illusions, and centuries-old constructions that defy gravity or blend perfectly into mountains. These aren’t digital renderings — they’re real places from around the world.
More: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Unzipped Building — Alex Chinneck in Milan, Italy
A building facade appears to peel open like a jacket, with an oversized zipper curling away the wall to reveal its inner structure. This public installation by Alex Chinneck uses stone, concrete, and illusion to challenge how we perceive architecture.
2. King Alfred’s Tower — England
This red-brick triangular tower rises dramatically from the fog in Somerset, England. Built in 1772, it commemorates Alfred the Great and reaches over 49 meters high with a narrow footprint that adds to its illusion of impossibility.
3. Alpine Refuge — Monte Cristallo, Italy
Located at 2,760 meters in the Dolomites, this hidden wooden shelter from World War I is embedded directly into the rockface. Built for survival, it now appears like a dreamlike relic barely distinguishable from the mountain.
4. Hallgrímskirkja Church — Reykjavík, Iceland
This iconic Lutheran church, inspired by basalt columns and volcanic formations, dominates the Reykjavík skyline. Designed in 1937 and completed in 1986, its symmetry and scale evoke science fiction architecture.
5. The House That Sank — The Crooked House, UK
Built in 1765 on top of a mine shaft, this British pub developed a pronounced tilt as the ground beneath it slowly gave way. Despite its slanting angles, it remained a local favorite for centuries.
6. Organic Slate Roof House — Germany
This home with flowing lines and a wave-shaped slate roof blurs the line between fairy tale and high-end eco-architecture. Natural stone and soft curves give it a whimsical yet grounded appearance.
7. Cliff House — France (Built 1347)
Balanced between eras and gravity, this timber-framed upper house sits atop massive medieval stonework. Located in France and completed in 1347, it seems to hover above the road with support beams stretching underneath.
8. Rock-Built Homes — Sanaa, Yemen
Traditional Yemeni tower houses in Sanaa rise directly from the rock, combining ancient stone masonry with ornate white geometric window frames. The buildings appear both sculpted by nature and intricately human-made.These buildings bend our expectations of what architecture can be — not just structures, but expressions of ingenuity, adaptation, and creativity. Whether carved into mountains or dressed like zippers, they show that the line between surreal and real is thinner than it seems.
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
Which one is your favorite?
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9 Sculptures That Blur Reality and Nature
Content warning: From woven warriors in the woods to surreal windows floating in open fields, these eight sculptures twist perception and blend effortlessly into their surroundings. In this curated collection, you’ll encounter sleeping giants nestled into hillsides, natur
From woven warriors in the woods to surreal windows floating in open fields, these eight sculptures twist perception and blend effortlessly into their surroundings.
In this curated collection, you’ll encounter sleeping giants nestled into hillsides, nature-based illusions made from leaves, and wooden titans guarding rivers. Each artwork challenges the boundaries between art, environment, and imagination — spanning countries like Ecuador, France, the UK, and the USA.
More: 10 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
1. Sleeping Boy — By El Decertor in Imbabura, Ecuador
A young boy lies in peaceful slumber with his teddy bear, seamlessly integrated into a concrete wall and creeping vines. The painted body appears to nestle under the greenery, making the illusion feel alive.
2. The Sleeping Beauty — By Made in Graffiti in Picardie, France
Painted directly onto a hillside, this monochromatic mural of a girl hugging a teddy bear appears as if she’s embedded in the landscape.
🔗 Follow Made in Graffiti on Instagram
3. Fluentem Colos — Land Art by Jon Foreman in Little Milford, UK
This forest installation arranges green, yellow, and brown leaves in a wave-like optical illusion. Carefully positioned by hand, the sculpture bends depth perception using nothing but natural materials.
More!: 10 Spellbinding New Stone Sculptures by Jon Foreman (All from 2025)
4. Mama Mimi the Troll — Trash Art by Thomas Dambo in Wyoming, USA
Built from reclaimed wood, this massive troll lounges across a bridge in Rendezvous Park. With braided hair and expressive eyes, she invites visitors to climb, explore, and imagine.
More!: 10 Giant Trolls Hiding in Forests, Lakes and Ruins
5. Stillness in Motion — Sculpture by Olga Ziemska at the Centre of Polish Sculpture in Oronsko, Poland
This dynamic figure, constructed from aligned wooden branches, gives the illusion of motion frozen in time. Her sweeping form suggests wind or energy, drawing a group of children’s attention in a city park.
🔗 Follow Olga Ziemska on Instagram
6. Reaching Hand — Wood Sculpture by Simon O’Rourke in Wales, UK
Carved from the remains of the UK’s tallest tree, this sculpture depicts an outstretched human hand reaching skyward. The realistic veins and texture blend human form with natural bark.
More photos!: From Tallest Tree to Towering Sculpture: The Giant Hand of the UK
7. The Archer — Willow Sculpture by Anna & The Willow in the UK
Standing in a woodland path, this archer draws her bow with a body sculpted entirely from interwoven willow. Her flowing form mimics fabric in motion, blending into the surrounding forest.
🔗 Follow Anna & The Willow on Instagram
8. Window Ladder — Sculpture by Leandro Erlich in Uruguay
This surreal outdoor installation features a floating brick-framed window with a tall ladder leading to it. The disconnected wall segment hovers mid-air, challenging logic and gravity.
🔗 Follow Leandro Erlich on Instagram
9. Grumpy Stone — David Zinn in Michigan, USA
A small stone with a sculpted frown sits tucked among pebbles, blending perfectly into its surroundings. Created by David Zinn, the piece adds humor to an ordinary spot — a tiny character looking unimpressed with the world around him. More!: Happy Art by David Zinn (10 Photos)
🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
More: 20 Street Art Pieces That Hit the Right Note
Which one is your favorite?
14 Street Art Masterpieces That Will Make You Fall in Love with Books Again
From a massive bookshelf painted across a building in Russia to a fox sharing wisdom on a French bookstore wall, artists across the world are transforming public spaces with book-inspired art. In Brazil, a child climbs a vibrant wall of painted encyclopedias. In Michigan, a chalk-drawn mouse curls up with a novel beneath a terra cotta pot lamp. This collection explores 14 creative murals, sculptures, and interventions where reading takes center stage—reminding us that stories still shape the cities around us.
More birds!: Read, Roam, Repeat: 11 Whimsical Public Book Spots to Celebrate World Book Day
1. Climbing the Library – Eduardo Kobra in Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
A giant mural of a boy climbing a painted wooden ladder up a wall filled with colorful books. Each book spine is intricately detailed in vibrant tones, creating the illusion of a real, towering library.🔗 Follow Eduardo Kobra on Instagram
2. Giant Bookshelf Mural – JanIsDeMan in Solnechnodolsk, Russia
This massive trompe-l’œil mural transforms a bland apartment block into a three-story bookshelf packed with Russian titles, a model cathedral, and a Matryoshka doll.🔗 Follow JanIsDeMan on Instagram
3. Flying from a Book – Bane & Pest in Chur, Switzerland
On a sports court wall, a mural shows a huge bird soaring from a glowing book, with a child in blue flying on its back. Piles of painted books surround the open one, symbolizing escape through imagination.🔗 Follow Bane on Instagram
4. Books Spark Ideas – TAKERONE in Razgrad, Bulgaria
A glowing lightbulb bursts out of an open book in this dramatic mural on a school wall. White paint splashes and swirling pages emphasize the moment of creative awakening.🔗 Follow TAKERONE on Instagram
5. Escape Through a Book – HERA in Vincennes, France
Painted on the wall of a bookstore, a fox coils protectively around a boy reading. Text in French translates: “It’s easy to escape everyday life—just open a book.”🔗 Follow HERA on Instagram
7. Reading in a Meadow – Zabou in Moutiers, France
This upside-down mural cleverly uses the building’s shape to depict a girl laying in a field of dandelions, reading while listening to music. The book becomes part of the wall’s edge.🔗 Follow Zabou on Instagram
8. Brick Wall of Knowledge – Brad Spencer in Charlotte, North Carolina, US
Sculpted from brick, this piece shows three children climbing and helping one another over a wall. The figures emerge seamlessly from the same bricks, referencing growth and learning.🔗Visit Brad Spencer website
9. Books as the Foundation – Unknown Artist in Yekaterinburg, Russia
A clever urban repair fills a crumbling building base with real books set in concrete. It’s a quiet but poetic commentary on knowledge holding up society.
10. Nadines Evening of Adventure – David Zinn in Ann Arbor, Michigan, US
A miniature chalk drawing of a mouse reading under a terra cotta flowerpot turned into a lamp. David Zinn’s whimsical interventions bring cozy charm to any corner. More by David Zinn!: Discover David Zinn’s Amazing Chalk Art Masterpieces in Michigan🔗 Follow David Zinn on Instagram
11. Book-Shaped Benches – Unknown Artist, likely Eastern Europe
These curving benches look like thick, open books with lines of text printed across them. They invite passersby to sit down—literally—on a story.
12. Tree Became a Library – Ruurlo, Netherlands
This open-air library is built into the hollowed trunk of an old tree, with small glass-fronted cabinets neatly installed into the wood. It holds a selection of books and acts as a public book exchange in a natural setting.
13. Dystopia Bowl
A black Halloween bowl filled with copies of George Orwell’s 1984 sits outside a home, accompanied by a sign reading “One Copy of 1984 Per Child.” It mimics a trick-or-treat setup but swaps candy for political commentary.
14. By Darion Fleming — Brooklyn, New York
Mural by Darion Fleming at 108 St. Edwards Street in Brooklyn, created with WXLLSPACE. It shows a young girl holding a box of school supplies and a stack of books supporting a globe. On top sits a teddy bear wearing a graduation cap with a pigeon perched above. The mural celebrates education featuring book titles such as “Unity Makes Strength” and “The Woman’s Hour.”🔗 Follow Darion Fleming on Instagram
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
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Nature Is Everything (10 Photos)
Content warning: Which one is your favorite?
From tree roots forming geometric patterns in urban parks to murals that turn flowers into hair, these eight pieces of street and environmental art prove that nature is more than a backdrop—it’s the medium, the frame, and sometimes the message. In this post, you’ll find: a face in the forest, playful illusions, floral-haired portraits, and creatures bursting through walls. Featuring works from Brazil, the U.S., and beyond.
More: When Street Art Meets Nature (40 Photos)
1. Forest Spirit
A broken tree trunk appears to reveal a hidden forest spirit. Its jagged bark mimics deep wrinkles and a stern expression, while moss on top looks like hair. A small web nestled in one of the “eyes” enhances the illusion of a face.
2. Natural Frame – Mural by Collettivo FX at the Pizzo Sella Art Village in Palermo
A black-and-white mural of two hands holding a camera turns a balcony doorway into a living photo. The window becomes the lens, perfectly framing a mountain view beyond.
🔗 Follow Collettivo FX on Instagram
3. Jungle Roar — Cameron “CAMER1sf” Moberg in Modesto, CA, USA
A roaring tiger emerges from lush flowers and tropical leaves. Monarch butterflies flit across the background, blending wild nature with botanical elements in explosive color.
🔗 Follow CAMER1sf on Instagram
4. Butterfly Effect — CYFI in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
Giant butterflies painted on a brick wall seem to lift off in 3D. Their vibrant wings cast painted shadows, enhancing the illusion that they’ve just landed—or are about to take flight.
5. Urban Roots — Natural Growth in Hong Kong
Tree roots spread beneath a banyan tree in precise, parallel lines, mirroring city infrastructure. The organic lines seem almost digital, echoing circuit boards or subway maps.
More photos: Nature at Work: “Mondrianish” Banyan Tree Roots Create Art in Hong Kong
6. Looking Up — Rodrigo Rodrigues in São Paulo, Brazil
The painted face of a child gazes upward in awe, seamlessly blending into real flowering bushes growing from the top of the wall. The plant becomes the child’s hair, rich with blossoms.
🔗 Follow Rodrigo Rodrigues on Instagram
7. Crown of Bougainvillea — Fabio Gomes Trindade in Trindade, Goiás, Brazil
A smiling girl rests her chin on her hand beneath an enormous blooming bougainvillea. The mural is placed so the real plant completes her afro hairstyle with vibrant pink blossoms.
More: How Fábio Gomes Turns Trees into Hair: Stunning Murals in Trindade
8. Four Seasons — Tribute to Kora by Bruno Althamer in Warsaw, Poland
A woman’s portrait is painted at the base of a tree. As the seasons change, the tree’s leaves become her hair—lush in summer, colorful in autumn, bare in winter, and flowering in spring.
More about it and photos: Four Seasons Tribute to Kora in Warsaw, Poland
9. Popeye’s Spinach — Semi O.K in Kocaeli Province, Istanbul, Turkey
A street mural shows Popeye reaching across a wall to hand a can of spinach to his child. A real tree placed above the can appears as the bursting greenery, completing the cartoon illusion. More!: Playful Art By Semiok (8 Photos)
🔗 Follow [b]Semiok on Instagram
10. Carved Void at Lindsway Bay by Jon Foreman
More!: 10 Forest Sculptures By Jon Foreman
🔗 Follow [b]Jon Foreman on Instagram[/b]
More: Street Art Utopia: Why People Fall In Love With Outdoor Art (25 Photos)
Which one is your favorite?
Buildings That Look Like They’re From a Dream (8 Photos)
From a church in Iceland that looks like a spaceship preparing for launch, to a house zipped open on a street in Milan — this collection showcases architecture at its most imaginative. Included are cliffside wartime refuges, storybook cottages, optical illusions, and centuries-old constructions that defy gravity or blend perfectly into mountains. These aren’t digital renderings — they’re real places from around the world.
More: 8 Beautiful Artworks That Seem to Grow From Nature
1. Unzipped Building — Alex Chinneck in Milan, Italy
A building facade appears to peel open like a jacket, with an oversized zipper curling away the wall to reveal its inner structure. This public installation by Alex Chinneck uses stone, concrete, and illusion to challenge how we perceive architecture.
2. King Alfred’s Tower — England
This red-brick triangular tower rises dramatically from the fog in Somerset, England. Built in 1772, it commemorates Alfred the Great and reaches over 49 meters high with a narrow footprint that adds to its illusion of impossibility.
3. Alpine Refuge — Monte Cristallo, Italy
Located at 2,760 meters in the Dolomites, this hidden wooden shelter from World War I is embedded directly into the rockface. Built for survival, it now appears like a dreamlike relic barely distinguishable from the mountain.
4. Hallgrímskirkja Church — Reykjavík, Iceland
This iconic Lutheran church, inspired by basalt columns and volcanic formations, dominates the Reykjavík skyline. Designed in 1937 and completed in 1986, its symmetry and scale evoke science fiction architecture.
5. The House That Sank — The Crooked House, UK
Built in 1765 on top of a mine shaft, this British pub developed a pronounced tilt as the ground beneath it slowly gave way. Despite its slanting angles, it remained a local favorite for centuries.
6. Organic Slate Roof House — Germany
This home with flowing lines and a wave-shaped slate roof blurs the line between fairy tale and high-end eco-architecture. Natural stone and soft curves give it a whimsical yet grounded appearance.
7. Cliff House — France (Built 1347)
Balanced between eras and gravity, this timber-framed upper house sits atop massive medieval stonework. Located in France and completed in 1347, it seems to hover above the road with support beams stretching underneath.
8. Rock-Built Homes — Sanaa, Yemen
Traditional Yemeni tower houses in Sanaa rise directly from the rock, combining ancient stone masonry with ornate white geometric window frames. The buildings appear both sculpted by nature and intricately human-made.These buildings bend our expectations of what architecture can be — not just structures, but expressions of ingenuity, adaptation, and creativity. Whether carved into mountains or dressed like zippers, they show that the line between surreal and real is thinner than it seems.
More: 30 Sculptures You (probably) Didn’t Know Existed
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