There was a time not so long ago when paintings on any concrete or brick surface—horizontal or vertical—would have been considered as graffiti. As vandalism.
How times have changed. To a reasonable extent, street art is now an accepted form of artistic expression, and some of it is truly amazing. In my opinion, especially the 3D art that has been popping up—pun intended—everywhere.
Some of the art you will see in the following pictures are done by commissioned artists. In some cases, they are simply the work of someone compelled to share their talent with strangers on the street.
Source:
Chris Carlson
1. Down below
Is this one man’s version of hell? Or just the molten lava that is somewhere down there below us? Hopefully farther down that that.
Source:
Julian Beever
2. Peek-a-boo
Imagine being able to see through walls? I’m fairly certain there are times that what lies within isn’t what the exterior suggests.
Source:
Nina Camplin
3. Erosion
Now that would be quite the road block. At least they have barriers up. If you were driving and could see that from a distance, that would be scary.
Source:
Edgar Meuller
4. Wild ride
It looks like lots of fun. Except for the boulders they are about to fly over and the creature waiting for them at the bottom.
Source:
Julian Beever
5. Peel back the shell
Imagine if you were to peel away the side of a boring building and find something like this inside. It looks like the entrance to a tomb.
Source:
John Pugh
6. Don’t let go
Scary! Water. Fire. And a family and their dog separated by it all. And someone in the distance who can walk on water.
Source:
Edgar Meuller
7. Large, please!
You know those mornings, don’t you? When nothing but the largest cup of coffee will get you going? Someone has the answer to that here.
Source:
Manfred Stader
8. Hop in
If this was in front of your shop would it compel people to come in? Or just loiter in the doorway? Might be bad for business, no matter how beautiful it is.
Source:
Joel Hill
9. A piece of history
This is on the wall of a building in Quebec, Canada. It paints the areas history back to 1700.
Source:
Quebec National Capital Commission
10. Tightrope anyone?
Most of us would never consider walking across a tightrope. But what if it was a strong web and Spiderman was waiting on the other side to catch you?
Source:
Kurt Wenner
11. A room with a view
During the renovation of this art museum this is how they covered the work in progress. I’m guessing the work inside would eventually impress as much as this.
Source:
René Magritte
12. Hold on!
I wonder if people seeing that for the first time as they walk toward it think it’s real. Would they turn and run or look for somethign to hold on to?
Source:
Edgar Meuller
13. On the rocks, please!
I’m not much of a Scotch drinker myself, but I bet some of you are. Would seeing a seemingly huge bottle like this leave an impression on you?
Source:
Julian Beever
14. Treacherous
This actually looks like it’s done in the middle of nowhere. I imagine more than a few people would be shocked to find out the core of the earth is actually ice and it’s coming up to get them.
Source:
Edgar Meuller
15. Um, hello
Poor guy looks horribly uncomfortable. And is he supposed to be half in the house or just leaning against it?
Source:
MTO
16. Underneath us
I’m sure there are caves of stalactites and beautiful pools of clear water beneath us. Just probably not right under streets and sidewalks that have been excavated.
Source:
Manfred Stader
17. Ride the tiger
Have you ever wished to ride a tiger. Or any big cat? This might be the only chnace a lot of people would ever get.
Source:
Arndt Nikolaj
18. An uprising?
If that represents a creature from the deep rising up to the surface, that water must be a whole lot deeper than it seems. Or am I just assuming there is a body attached to that arm?
Source:
Tasso
19. Now that is advertising
This is from 2010. I wonder if this is the year the Buick Lacross was introduced. If so, what an amazing way to help do it.
Source:
Kurt Wenner
20. That’s a little disturbing
So, that is a heart, I think. More than one, actaully. And due to the blood trail, i guess we should assume there used to be even more. Weird.
Source:
Eduardo Relero
21. The pit of despair?
If the pit of dispair was an actual thing, I think it would look a lot like this. And that vine, or whatever it is at the bottom, looks like a person. Stuck there.
Source:
Edgar Meuller
22. Mirror, mirror?
Art copying life? If that’s what this is, the artist has done a great job of creating a mirror reflection.
Source:
Julian Beever
23. Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood?
If only communities were like this. You’re all freinds with your neighbors and happy to see one another.
Source:
Eric Grohe
24. The after life
The egyptians mummified their people and prepared them for the after life. I bet they didn’t think the after life would land them on a city street somewhere in the 21st century.
Source:
Tracy Lee Stum
25. The portal?
If it wasn’t for the different color sky, you would never guess you weren’t looking down the street. At the right time of day, when the sky matches, this could confuse a lot of people.
Source:
Pierre Delavie
26. The fishing hole
I find that I really want to know what that says around the outside. And I would also like to know if the reflection in the water matches what’s really above.
Source:
Kurt Wenner
27. Busting out
If there was something in my house that started busting through the walls, I would be glad if it were something like baloons. Because balloons are fun. There could be all sorts of scary things in there with you, taking up all your space.
Source:
Ciaran Brennan
28. Party on!
This looks like some ancient time period. One where it seems people could fly. Regardless, they know how to party and dance through the streets.
Source:
Kurt Wenner
29. Snow in the forecast
At least people in the background are dressed for colder weather. This would be really disturing to find this scene on the street in the middle of summer.
Source:
Julian Beever
30. Rode in on…
Oh, look. There’s Poseidon riding up through the surface of the ground on Pegasus. But weren’t they in the air and not under the ground?
Source:
Tracy Lee Stum
31. Lunch break
It looks pretty hot back there in the factory. I’m sure that break with the bay door open is a welcome respite.
Source:
Eric Grohe
32. Creepy gets creepier
This looks like some old corner or grotto somewhere. So a little creepy to begin with. Add in the flying horseman and things get a whole lot worse.
Source:
Eduardo Relero
33. Cross that bridge
Another bridge to what seems to be a storefront. Personally, I would want to check out the dolphins, so there’s a good chance I would end up in that store.
Source:
Marvellous Murals
34. Trip and fall
You know those mornings. You are late for work and running to catch the train. Those are the times when disaster strikes.
Source:
Man-of-World
35. Mad Dragon
Source:
Man-of-World
36. Gulliver?
This immediately made me think of Gulliver’s Travels, but he could be any old giant laying on the sidewalk. At least he has a sheet and isn’t right on the cold pavement.
Source:
Man-of-World
37. What’s going on here?
I have to say I’m confused. At first I thought this was some kind of prison break because of the orange jumpsuit, but I don’t think so. Maybe they are just cleaning out the rats.
Source:
Man-of-World
38. Deposit or withdrawal?
That’s an incredibly big bank vault of cash. And we don’t really know if he is taking money out or putting it in. But he better lock it up tight again, no that everyone knows it’s there.
Source:
Man-of-World
39. The crater
It’s like a perfectly round asteroid hit the earth. Or maybe a spaceship landed for a while. The possibilities are endless.
Source:
Man-of-World
40. Watch your step!
Who here likes rickety old rope bridges that look like they won’t hold your weight? I wouldn’t step on that even knowing there was solid ground beneath me.
Source:
Man-of-World
41. This is my stop
If that’s a subway station in the background, this is very cool. Or even if this is above the train route, when there could be a train beneath you in reality.
Source:
Man-of-World
42. She’s far too calm
If a giant snail were creeping up on you, how would you react? Sit there and look at it or scream and run?
Source:
Man-of-World
43. Water works
Was the fountain alrealy there, or is it part of the art? Either way, that’s probably a good representation of what could be under the sidewalk.
Source:
Man-of-World
44. Waiting pool
Not a wading pool. A waiting pool. It made me think of guys that hate to go to the mall with you. They could have a waiting pool.
Source:
Man-of-World
45. The floor below
First, the escolator looks so real, I bet there are people who would try to step on. Second, wouldn’t it be awesome if that’s all you needed to do to get to your island vacation?
Source:
Man-of-World
46. Worker’s Comp
On the job accidents are terrible. Falling off scaffolding to the ground below could be deadly. Good thing this isn’t real life.
Source:
Man-of-World
47. The sink hole
If such of thing were to open up in front of you, what would you do? Try to jump it or take a long walk around it?
Source:
Man-of-World
48. Midday dip
There are hot summer days when you are walking about town that you wish you could do this. Stop to take a dip in a pool and have a cold Coke.
Source:
Julian Beever
49. Down the drain
I’m trying to figure out if the drain is part of the art work or if it was already there. That water is amazingly life-like.
Source:
Julian Beever
50. Baby food
Hopefully that lobster really isn’t supposed to look like it’s going to eat that baby. Because that would be horrible. I would like to think it’s just the baby sitter.
Source:
Julian Beever
51. Meet me at the lily pads
This scene of baby and creature is much nicer? That frog just looks curious. Like it wants to make a new friend.
Source:
Julian Beever
52. Share a coke
Remember all of those share a coke commercials. If you were going to share a coke with someone, it would be great if it were this big.
Source:
Julian Beever
53. Tan lines
Can you imagine putting down a blanket and umbrella in the middle of the sidewalk? I mean, what better place to lie and sun bathe, right?
Source:
Julian Beever
54. Their just due
The artwork apparently signifies a group of polititians meeting their end. I can think of a lot of current and historical politions who should have ended up like this.
Source:
Julian Beever
55. “Autobots, roll out”
For those that don’t know, this is a Transformer. And it looks like it’s coming up out of a New York City train station. With a Mountian Dew.
Source:
Julian Beever
56. On a smaller scale
It’s a baby Eiffel Tower. Made out of sand dug up from the walkway. Apparently this was drawn in Paris, so the real thing wasn’t that far away.
Source:
Julian Beever
57. Madame Butterfly
That’s like the mother of all butterflies. People are often excited when a butterfly lands on them. Imagine of this one did.
Source:
Julian Beever
58. Time Square
In Time Square looking down on Time Square. And I wonder if it’s in the exact spot. Where if you look up and down you will see the same thing.
Source:
Julian Beever
59. To the rescue
This is incredible. At first glance you would think this is really on a wall. But this is done a sidewalk. Either way, Batman and Robin are there to save the day.
Source:
Julian Beever
60. Under the sea
The surface can be so deceptively calm. Safe enough for little girls on their rafts. But there is a whole other world down there, teaming with life.
Source:
Julian Beever
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