X

Eye-popping 3D street art (photos)

Artists incorporate three dimensions into sidewalk drawings to create amazing optical illusions.

Leslie Katz
Leslie Katz led a team that explored the intersection of tech and culture, plus all manner of awe-inspiring science, from space to AI and archaeology. When she's not smithing words, she's probably playing online word games, tending to her garden or referring to herself in the third person.
Leslie Katz
03-Czech-Cursor-Inst#22E401.jpg
1 of 10 Kurt Wenner

Cursors

You don't need special glasses to view these eye-popping works of 3D street painting, also called anamorphic or illusionistic art. But you will need to approach them from just the right angle to get the full effect.

Cursors meet the classics in this Czech installation by Italian artist Kurt Wenner, who draws with handmade pastels and generally paints between 4 and 6 square yards a day.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

jb-015.jpg
2 of 10 Rick Lee

White-water rafting

Thanks to U.K. artist Julian Beever, it's possible to go white-water rafting right on the pavement (or it was, before the rain came and washed Beever's painting away).

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

spiderman.jpg
3 of 10 Julian Beever

Spider-Man

Beever's Spider-man comes to the rescue above and below a London street.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

croppedcave.jpg
4 of 10 Edgar Mueller

A cave in London

Another London street goes anamorphic, this time housing a mysterious, light-drenched cave painted by German artist Edgar Mueller.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

lleidallordi-1.jpeg
5 of 10 Eduardo Relero

Insensatez

Anamorphic street paintings, like "Insensatez" (Insanity) by Eduardo Relero invite interactivity.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

6 of 10 Tracy Lee Stum

Escape of the Mummy

Artist Tracy Lee Stum drew inspiration from Indiana Jones and the Mummy for "Escape of the Mummy," 1 12x12-foot chalk drawing that made a showing at the Youth in Arts Street Painting Festival in San Rafael, Calif., in 2008.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

tlstumcalcutta.jpg
7 of 10 Tracy Lee Stum

Demo painting in Calcutta

Stum painted this 7x10-foot demo painting at the School of Fine Art in Calcutta, India, to teach students how to paint a believable 3D spatial image in chalk.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

3d_street_painting_easyjet1.jpg
8 of 10 Manfred Stader

EasyJet ad

Artist Manfred Stader created this 3D street advertisement in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the travel-booking site EasyJet.com.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

street_painting_astana_1.jpg
9 of 10 Manfred Stader

Astana

Stader was invited to create a 3D street painting in Astana, Kazakhstan, to mark its 12th year as the capital. His painting depicts the country's Charyn canyon.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

street_painting_schiphol_fotographer_nobottle.jpg
10 of 10 Manfred Stader

Kneipp ad

Stader works on a 3D ad for Kneipp bath and body products at Amsterdam's Airport Schiphol.

Related article: "Street artists step it up with 3D"

More Galleries

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera
A houseplant

My Favorite Shots From the Galaxy S24 Ultra's Camera

20 Photos
Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra
magic-v2-2024-foldable-1383

Honor's Magic V2 Foldable Is Lighter Than Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra

10 Photos
The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum
Samsung Galaxy S24

The Samsung Galaxy S24 and S24 Plus Looks Sweet in Aluminum

23 Photos
Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design
The Galaxy S24 Ultra in multiple colors

Samsung's Galaxy S24 Ultra Now Has a Titanium Design

23 Photos
I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites
img-0368.jpg

I Took 600+ Photos With the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. Look at My Favorites

34 Photos
17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About
Invitation for the Apple September iPhone 15 event

17 Hidden iOS 17 Features You Should Definitely Know About

18 Photos
AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?
img-1599-2.jpg

AI or Not AI: Can You Spot the Real Photos?

17 Photos