From a milkmaid pouring real liquid to a giant frog staring down a visitor in a decaying warehouse—these 10 pieces of street art reshape how we see the urban world. You’ll find gravity-defying illusions in Germany, surreal reflections in Lithuania, and playful architectural deception in Poland. Scroll down for a tour of murals, sculptures, and street interventions that blur the line between art and reality.
1. Floating World — Ray Bartkus in Marijampolė, Lithuania
This remarkable mural by Ray Bartkus was intentionally painted upside-down to create a magical effect. The swimmers, rowers, and swans appear right-side-up only when reflected in the waters of the Šešupė River, which flows through the heart of the city. Visitors to the old dam are invited to rediscover the mural’s beauty time and time again.
As Bartkus explains: “The drawing itself is created in reverse, and its true form is revealed only in the water’s reflection. I hope that every time people pass by, they will discover something new, because this artwork, like our days in life, is never the same as it was yesterday.”
More photos and how it was painted!: This upside-down mural is upright in reflection
2. The Grab — Cosimo “Cheone” Caiffa & Mor Pavone in Nerviano, Italy
A tattooed man emerges from the underpass, his massive arms reaching out past the tunnel walls. One hand grips the corner as if he’s pulling himself out, while the other stretches forward—toward the artist, who appears to flee in mid-crawl.
More by Cosimo “Cheone” Caiffa!: 23 Amazing 3D Murals by CHEONE!
3. Giant Blue Frog — Odeith in Portugal
Painted with shadow and depth, this frog appears to leap out from the peeling wall of an abandoned room. A viewer sits directly across from it, locked in a surreal stare-down.
More by Odeith!: Master of Illusion!: 19 Jaw-Dropping 3D Graffiti Pieces by Odeith
4. Gravity — Leon Keer in Wuppertal, Germany
An enormous box of colorful marbles seems to sit inside the side of a building, with one marble rolling out onto the pavement. The perspective and shading create a powerful illusion of depth.
More photos!: 7 Photos and Video of “Gravity” by Leon Keer in Wuppertal, Germany
5. Grand Lobby — WALLART in Łódź, Poland
This mural transforms a flat wall into the lobby of a luxury hotel, complete with chandeliers, guests in formalwear, and gold-framed paintings. Every detail mimics the real architecture of an upscale interior.
More photos!: Impressive Three-dimensional Mural by WALLART in Lodz, Poland (4 photos and video)
6. The Milkmaid — Oakoak in Saint-Étienne, France
A playful twist on Vermeer’s painting, this urban piece places the milkmaid against a building wall and aligns her jug perfectly with a metal container on the street, creating a seamless real-world interaction.
More by Oakoak!: 9 Genius Street Artworks That Will Change How You See the City
7. Caught in a Glass — Bobby “Rogue-One” in Glasgow, UK
A woman painted in sharp detail holds a drinking glass—trapping a real man inside its transparent cylinder. The artist plays with perspective to stage an optical illusion in full scale.
More by Rogue-One!: 5 Stunning Bobby Rogue-One Murals You Need to See in Glasgow
8. 3D Horse — Nikolaj Arndt in Neustadt, Germany
A photorealistic chalk drawing on a pedestrian path shows a horse half-submerged in a puddle. A seated viewer strokes its nose, completing the illusion of presence.
🔗 Follow Nikolaj Arndt on Instagram
9. Lava Fountain — L’Aquila, Italy
At sunset, the water from this statue aligns perfectly with sunlight to look like a jet of molten lava. The timing and angle make a real-world illusion that feels digitally edited—but isn’t.
More photos!: Molten Magic – Italian Fountain Glows Like Flowing Lava
10. Horizon — Sculpture by Neil Dawson at Gibbs Farm, New Zealand
This massive steel sculpture outlines curves of a floating sheet across a hillside. Depending on your position, it can appear as a 2D drawing suspended in the sky.
More photos here!: You Won’t Believe This Incredible Sculpture in New Zealand Isn’t Photoshopped!
11. The Seeder — Morfai in Kaunas, Lithuania
This clever piece combines sculpture, carving, and light. A statue of a man with a satchel stands before a wall where dozens of black star-shaped elements are embedded into etched recesses. During the day, it’s subtle. But at night, the man’s shadow aligns perfectly with the stars, making it appear as if he’s sowing them into the wall.
About The Seeder and more photos!: Reviving Culture Through Art: ‘The Seeder’ Marks Lithuania’s First Legal Street Art Masterpiece
Which one is your favorite?
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My favourite is the horse in the water.
The horizon is really impressive. It looks like a drawing on a picture! I would like to see how it looks like in real life.
With all the great art out there, what was the point of editing the first photograph? The reflection of the building on the water is distorted by the ripples on the surface, but the reflection of the art is pristine. Water doesn’t work that way. Was it too hard to wait for still water, so you had to sloppily Photoshop the images onto the surface of the water?
The lady with the glass with the man pretending to be trapped in it is great.
I like them all but if I had to name just one, I will say the Hotel lobby on the building in Poland.
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