In cities and parks around the world, artists keep returning to the same universal symbol — the hand. In these works, hands lift, hold, plant, and protect. They rise from tree trunks, cradle saplings, and reach from brick walls to offer help. Together they form a quiet language of care — one that speaks of balance between people and nature, strength in connection, and the simple act of reaching out.
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1. Caring Hand — Eva Oertli & Beat Huber in Glarus, Switzerland
A massive sculpted hand appears to rise from the earth to cradle a living tree, blending human form and nature in a symbol of guardianship.
About and more photos: The Caring Hand – Sculpture in Glarus, Switzerland
2. In Your Hands — Adrien Martinetti in Ajaccio, France
This mural merges real and painted worlds as a tree grows from the soil cradled in painted hands.
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3. Give — Lorenzo Quinn in Venice, Italy
Quinn’s white marble hands rise from the grass, gently holding a sapling. The sculpture represents renewal and the balance between giving and protecting the planet’s fragile life.
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4. Keep Your Shine — Denis Dendy in Istanbul, Turkey
Two luminous hands, painted with fine detail, hold a glowing red sphere between their palms. The piece glows with quiet energy, expressing the power of light, creativity, and care contained within human touch.
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5. Take My Hand — Michael Rosato’s mural in Cambridge, Maryland, USA
This mural of Harriet Tubman is painted on the side of the Tubman Museum and Education Center. Tubman is shown stepping out of a broken brick wall, arm extended as if reaching for the viewer’s hand. Behind her, a calm riverside landscape glows under a setting sun. The artwork is titled Take My Hand and has become an iconic tribute to her legacy.
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6. The Remnants of the UK’s Tallest Tree — Simon O’Rourke in Wales, UK
Carved directly from the trunk of a fallen tree, this towering sculpture transforms what remains of a natural giant into a symbol of endurance — a hand still reaching upward even after loss. More about it!: From Tallest Tree to Towering Sculpture: The Giant Hand of the UK
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7. Helping Hands — Exitenter in Florence, Italy
Exitenter’s minimalist street piece turns a wall corner into a story of mutual aid, where two stick figures collaborate to climb upward. Simple yet striking, it captures the essence of empathy in one small gesture.
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8. Tribute to the Women of Ondarroa — Muraleslian in Ondarroa, Spain
Large-scale mural of two hands mending a fishing net, painted in grayscale with colored threads crossing through the lower half. Created as a tribute to the women of Ondarroa who sustained community life through their craft and labor. More photos and about it!: Tribute to the womens of Ondarroa (Spain) – Mural by Muraleslian
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