6 Unbelievable Animal-Inspired Murals by Jack Lack (Including a Sleepy Cat and Submerged Whales)

In this vibrant collection of murals, Jack Lack brings animals and objects to life with mesmerizing realism across walls in France, Japan, Portugal, the UK, and the Netherlands. From a cat curled up in Grenoble to sunflowers blooming in Assen, each mural fuses photorealism with subtle narrative elements—some quiet and serene, others tangled in urban metaphor. In Weston-super-Mare, two whales glide across an entire building, while in Swindon, a bird appears trapped inside a glass jar. These murals reveal Jack Lack’s evolving mastery of light, scale, and illusion.

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Sleeping Painted Cat — Grenoble, France

A hyperrealistic mural of a tabby cat curled up in deep sleep, painted across a white façade. The artist uses soft gradient blending and delicate fur details to make the feline appear almost three-dimensional, blending gently into the wall’s negative space.

Shika — Osaka, Japan

Painted across an urban building façade, this mural features a majestic stag with glistening antlers. Its gaze is calm but alert, surrounded by subtle golden tones that give the work an almost sacred ambiance. The architectural features are smartly incorporated into the animal’s form.

Jack Lack: This deer is a greeting to the lovely people of Konohana, Osaka. In Japan, shika (deer) are considered messengers from the spirit world. As such, they also form a bridge between humans and nature. I tried to capture this connection by painting a deer leaning through a frame or doorway, reaching out to those passing by to bring them a message of hope and positivity.

Heavy Load — Caldas da Rainha, Portugal

This striking mural shows a donkey carrying supplies, ropes, and gear—capturing both physical burden and quiet strength. The photorealistic rendering of textures and harnesses contrasts with abstract elements like diagonal bars and shadows.

Jack Lack: Wonderful time down in Caldas da Rainha, Portugal. I got the opportunity to paint this soon to be opened art/creative space. I will keep you posted with updates about the opening! Unfortunately, donkeys are nowadays much less in the area than they used to be, so here is one bringing all the cool stuff that will be happening inside the gallery.

Bonded — Weston-super-Mare, United Kingdom

Two massive whales swim in tight formation across a towering building. White lines cut through the image, resembling ropes or sonar, creating the illusion of movement beneath the surface. A dark backdrop suggests the deep sea while still maintaining mural realism.

Jack Lack: The humpback whale’s song can travel over 10.000 kilometers. By this song they are bonded together and connected over far distances. It is the crucial part of the humpbacks communication to stay together as a pod/group.

Invisible Cages — Swindon, England

A small bird is shown trapped inside a large glass jar, magnified and distorted by the curved glass. The translucent reflections give a surreal quality, while the urban setting contrasts with the delicate subject matter.

Jack Lack: Not all walls are visible and not every barrier can be seen. I painted the story of all the lil birds that won’t go near the noise pollution of cities, staying away from it in a cage defined by the fear of the city noises. Probably the great tit is not always one of them but it is a bird I like a lot.

Decay — Assen, Netherlands

Sunflowers bloom and wither in this large mural created for the Drents Museum. One flower droops in decay while others remain vivid, contrasting life and impermanence. Vivid yellows and rich browns dominate the composition.

Jack Lack: Over the last few days I painted these drying sunflowers in Assen, NL for Drents Museum. They are about to have an amazing display of van Gogh’s works so this wall is inspired by the motives and the slow metal decay of the master.

Through his animal-focused murals, Jack Lack bridges the emotional lives of creatures with the texture of cityscapes—creating public art that feels both grounded and otherworldly. His work transforms blank walls into living moments shared between nature and passerby.

More: 12 Murals That Hit You Right in the Heart (And You’ll Never Forget Them)

Which one is your favorite?