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Stone by Stone: Justin Bateman’s Incredible Pebble Portraits in Thailand (12 Photos)

November 10, 2025
By Vidar

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Justin Bateman makes amazing art using stones and pebbles.

His portraits capture the feelings and stories of his subjects while showing how temporary art can be. He creates his works outside, and over time, nature takes them back.

More from Justin Bateman: Webpage // Instagram // Facebook

More Land Art: 20 Pics Of Land Art Sculptures by Jon Foreman

A stone and pebble portrait of George Washington titled "George Washingstone," created by Justin Bateman in Bangkok, Thailand. The artwork uses carefully arranged stones of various sizes and colors to form the recognizable face of Washington, blending earthy tones to capture intricate details. The piece sits outdoors, surrounded by loose gravel, reflecting the ephemeral nature of Bateman's creations.

One of his coolest pieces is “George Washingstone.”

He made it in Bangkok, Thailand, with stones he found by a railway. Bateman joked, “I did have to wash the stones,” showing how much care he puts into his art. This portrait of George Washington mixes history and nature in a really creative way.

A detailed stone and pebble portrait of George Washington, titled "George Washingstone," created by Justin Bateman in Bangkok, Thailand. The arrangement uses varying shades of gray, white, and brown stones to bring out the contours and expressions of Washington’s face. The portrait sits in a defined area of gravel, showcasing Bateman's ability to use natural materials to recreate iconic imagery with precision.
An elderly man crouches beside Justin Bateman's ephemeral pebble portrait of George Washington, titled "George Washingstone," created in Bangkok, Thailand. The man points towards the artwork on the ground, situated near a railway track surrounded by greenery and urban elements. The portrait blends seamlessly into the gravelly surface, highlighting its temporary and naturalistic essence.

‘Paper money has had the effect that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice.’ – George Washington

‘Wealth is the ability to fully experience life.’ –Henry David Thoreau

A stunning stone and pebble portrait titled "Grace" by Justin Bateman, depicting an elderly woman from Myanmar with a warm smile. The intricate arrangement of stones captures the depth of her facial features, using earthy tones and highlights to convey both strength and serenity. The portrait is framed within a border of darker stones, adding contrast and enhancing the subject’s prominence. Created in Thailand, this artwork reflects Bateman's skill in combining natural materials with emotional storytelling.

‘Grace’

‘Peace isn’t an experience free of challenges, free of rough and smooth, it’s an experience that’s expansive enough to include all that arises without feeling threatened.’ – Pema Chödrö

Justin Bateman: My work is not political, but the context is inherent in every portraits physiognomy. ‘Grace’ is based on a photograph by Oleg Doroshenko, ‘Myanmar old lady’.

A pebble portrait titled "Fisherman" by Justin Bateman, featuring the face of an older man with a detailed beard and a rugged hat. Created using carefully selected stones in shades of black, gray, and white, the portrait showcases Bateman's talent for capturing intricate facial expressions and textures. The piece is set on a gravel background, blending seamlessly into its natural surroundings in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Justin Bateman crouches next to his pebble portrait titled "Fisherman" in a natural outdoor setting in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The artwork features a bearded man’s face, intricately crafted from stones of varying colors and textures. Surrounded by large boulders and lush greenery, the setting contrasts with an urban building in the background, emphasizing the temporary and harmonious nature of Bateman’s art.

‘Fisherman’

‘The charm of fishing is that it is the pursuit of what is elusive but attainable, a perpetual series of occasions for hope’. – John Buchan

‘Refugee 1’

‘The aim is not to make a portrait, it is to express the soul of a subject, however briefly’. – Justin Bateman

Justin Bateman: Where do we belong? It can be hard to know, but most of us have a place we call home. Others lack both material and spiritual homes, taking temporary refuge where they can… Those who were simply born in the wrong place at the wrong time. The forgotten faces series of ‘Refugees’ explores the brevity of belonging for those people who’s name and fate is unknown. Inspired by a photograph of Burmese Refugees in Thailand, with the kind permission of Christian Bobst.

A pebble portrait titled "Refugee 2" by Justin Bateman, showcasing the face of a young individual with an upward, hopeful gaze. Crafted using various shades of stones and pebbles, the artwork blends seamlessly into its gravel background, emphasizing its ephemeral nature. The portrait captures a sense of longing and perseverance, reflecting the resilience of refugees. Created in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this piece highlights Bateman's ability to convey emotion through natural materials.

‘Refugee 2’

Justin Bateman: Help Myanmar end the violence and restore democracy by donating to the interim government CRPH.

A stone and pebble portrait titled "Mandela Mandala" by Justin Bateman, featuring a warm depiction of Nelson Mandela. The artwork is crafted using earthy brown and tan stones, arranged to highlight the contours of Mandela’s face and his gentle expression. The pebbles’ natural tones enhance the portrait's depth, symbolizing Mandela’s enduring legacy and connection to the earth. Created in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this piece reflects Bateman's skill in combining simplicity and profound storytelling.

‘Mandela Mandala’

‘During my lifetime I have dedicated myself to this struggle of the African people. I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die.’ – Nelson Mandela

Justin Bateman: In collaboration with the earth, these momentary reflections sometimes represent our human ideals. But they are only ever allegories for something far greater…. To witness a love that will outlive any object.

‘Masonry Messiah’

“Faith is a place of mystery, where we find the courage to believe in what we cannot see and the strength to let go of our fear of uncertainty” – Brené Brown

Justin Bateman: Stones have illustrated core concepts in spiritual teachings for centuries. Whilst creating the mosaics it is possible to achieve a contemplative state of heightened awareness and meditation. In this discipline there is freedom. The stones are integral to my practice whereby the medium is very much the message.

A delicate stone and pebble portrait titled "La Scapigliata" by Justin Bateman, inspired by Leonardo da Vinci’s unfinished masterpiece. The artwork uses a blend of tan, beige, and dark pebbles to recreate the serene expression and flowing features of the subject. The intricate design captures both the softness and depth of the original artwork, blending seamlessly into the natural gravel setting. Created in Chiang Mai, Thailand, this piece highlights Bateman’s ability to reinterpret classical art using ephemeral materials.

‘La Scapigliata’

‘I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than closed by belief’. – Gerry Spence

More Land Art: 15 Mind-Blowing Land Art Creations by Jon Foreman You Have to See

What do you think about the land art by Justin Bateman? Should we do a part 2 of his newer artworks?

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11 Comments

  1. Amazing what someone so talented can do with just some pebbles! Please do a part two.

    Reply

  4. Absolutely. Justin Bateman’s artwork is amazingly beautiful and soulful.

    Reply

    1. Yes we should do more like this. I mean maybe even with slightly bigger rocks. 😄

      Reply

  6. […] Street Art Utopia […]

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      1. I thought the same thing at first. The actor’s name is Jason and his sister is Justine.

        Reply

      2. No!
        I thought it was the same person too until I looked him up. This Jason Bateman was born in the UK and lived in Thailand now. It is not the same person.

        Reply

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