Clever! (12 Photos)

These street art go beyond walls—turning streets, alleys, and facades into unforgettable illusions and emotions. From reflective eyes to 3D rivers to seasonal portraits shaped by real trees, each piece shows why street art is more than just paint. Here’s a collection of 12 artworks that are absolutely amazing in both craft and placement.

More: Unreal Moments (9 Photos)


A purple trash bin on a sidewalk transformed to look like Cookie Monster with added googly eyes and a cookie placed on its “mouth,” humorously anthropomorphizing public infrastructure.

1. Cookie Time

A purple public trash bin has been turned into Cookie Monster with the addition of two white googly eyes. A cookie is cleverly placed on the edge, completing the illusion.

More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)


A small stone painted to resemble a grumpy, cartoonish creature with crossed arms. It is placed among other natural rocks at the base of a concrete pillar, almost camouflaged with its surroundings.

2. Grumpy Stone — By David Zinn in USA

A stone painted to resemble a grumpy, troll-like face with crossed arms is tucked among similarly sized pebbles beside a concrete pillar, blending in with subtle humor. More!: Cute Art By David Zinn (14 Photos)

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3. Repairing the Wall — By ENDER at Rue Villiers-de-L’Isle-Adam in Paris, France

A painted girl pulls red thread across a cracked wall, appearing to stitch the concrete shut. The artwork blends into the damage, transforming decay into a delicate visual repair.. More here!

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A no-entry traffic sign altered with graffiti to depict three stick figures inside the white bar, turning it into a bar scene with stools and drinks, humorously reinterpreting public signage.

4. No Entry Bar Scene

A standard “No Entry” road sign is turned into a bar scene by painting black stick figures inside the white space. One sits on a stool with a martini, while the others engage in conversation.


Street artwork by EFIX in France. A mural of Maggie Simpson is painted around a metal wall anchor, which functions as her pacifier. The cartoon is rendered in bold yellow, blue, and red, integrating the real-world object into the character's design.

5. Maggie’s Pacifier — By EFIX

A metal wall anchor is transformed into Maggie Simpson’s iconic pacifier. The rest of her face and body are painted around it in her classic cartoon style, blending 2D illustration with real-world objects. More!: EFIX’s Clever Art (9 Photos)

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A raised sidewalk structure painted to look like a 3D switch labeled “ON” and “OFF,” turning a mundane object into a playful illusion of a functional button.

6. On/Off Switch — By Oakoak

A protruding white traffic barrier is transformed into a giant “On/Off” switch using 3D illusion painting, making it appear as if the sidewalk can be toggled like a machine. More!: Oakoak’s Genius Street Art! (10 Photos)

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A storm drain painted to appear as the mouth of an ocean wave filled with colorful fish. The surrounding mural includes the text “The Sea Starts Here… Don’t Litter,” linking storm drains to ocean pollution.

7. The Sea Starts Here

A storm drain is surrounded by a colorful mural of fish swimming in a wave. Above, the painted message reads: “The Sea Starts Here… Don’t Litter,” blending environmental advocacy with public art.


A Halloween candy bowl filled with copies of George Orwell’s 1984, placed on a doormat with a sign that reads “One Copy of 1984 Per Child.” The image mimics a trick-or-treat setup, using satire to reference surveillance and control.

8. Dystopia Bowl

A black Halloween bowl filled with copies of George Orwell’s 1984 sits outside a home, accompanied by a sign reading “One Copy of 1984 Per Child.” It mimics a trick-or-treat setup but swaps candy for political commentary.


9. Giant Bottle Bin

This oversized metal bottle sculpture doubles as a recycling container for plastic waste. The playful design highlights environmental awareness in public space by literally turning the problem into the bin itself.


10. Painted Staircase — In Valparaíso, Chile

On this narrow hillside staircase in Valparaíso, each step is painted with a different section of a colorful seafront cityscape. Together, they form a panoramic view that blends the real architecture with the illusion of painted buildings and sky.


11. Optical Illusion Wall — Cosimo CHEONE Caiffa in Italy

A painted figure wearing sunglasses extends his hand toward the viewer, positioned so the fingers appear to grab the shirt of someone walking past. The mural uses the vertical pillar to complete the illusion, making the interaction look physical. More!: Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE! (24 Photos)

🔗 Follow Cosimo CHEONE Caiffa on Instagram


12. No, thanks

A hand holding a cigarette pack is positioned to align with a carved figure on an old stone relief, making it appear as if the statue is offering the item. The setup relies on matching angles and placement to create the playful effect. More!: Playing With Statues (23 photos)


More: Absolutely Stunning (11 Photos)


Which one is your favorite?


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5 Comments

  1. I must say that I find each one of them to be very clever and creative. So kudos to all of the “outside of the box” artists. If I have to choose just one though, it would be the Dystopia Bowl. Truly frightful with a Halloween twist! 🎃

  2. 3 for imagination and 7 because the ocean and water in general is required for our survival. Kind of sad we need to be reminded to take care of it. But such a cute way, makes even the grumpiest person smile.

  3. @streetartutopia Feels clickbait to me. I wish you wouldn't.

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