From the tangible heaviness of stone-filled sculptures to murals that address absence, poverty, and environmental destruction, these eight works reveal the burdens we shoulder as individuals and societies. Featuring Celeste Roberge, Kevin Lee, Haohui Zhou
From the tangible heaviness of stone-filled sculptures to murals that address absence, poverty, and environ
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From the tangible heaviness of stone-filled sculptures to murals that address absence, poverty, and environmental destruction, these eight works reveal the burdens we shoulder as individuals and societies. Featuring Celeste Roberge, Kevin Lee, Haohui Zhou, Bin Liu, SMUG, Innerfields, Lalone, Alexander Milov, Hijack, and Banksy, the collection spans continents and mediums, each piece offering its own perspective on what it means to carry weight — emotional, social, or physical — in public spaces.
1. The Weight of Grief — Celeste Roberge in USA
A crouched human form constructed from a steel frame filled with smooth stones. The open lattice reveals each rock, collectively forming the figure’s mass, visually conveying the heaviness of grief.
2. The Invisibility of Poverty — Kevin Lee, Haohui Zhou & Bin Liu in China
A boy sits on stone steps, body-painted to perfectly blend into the background. The camouflage makes him almost vanish, reflecting how poverty is often overlooked in society. More!: The Invisibility of Poverty
3. Say No to Plastic — SMUG in Margate, UK
A hyper-realistic mural of a seal being freed from a tangle of blue netting by human hands. The scale and detail highlight the impact of plastic waste on marine life. More!: 24 Times SMUG Made Walls Look More Real Than Life
A mural of a woman embracing a person-shaped void, the missing figure painted as the same green as the wall. The absence becomes the focal point, expressing loss and separation. More photos and about this mural!: Absent – Mural by Innerfields Berlin, Germany
A mural of a hooded figure sitting on the street, cradling two dogs. The life-sized perspective aligns perfectly with the viewer’s street-level gaze, blurring reality and painted imagery.
Two large wire-frame adult figures sit back-to-back, each enclosing a smaller illuminated child reaching toward the other. The work captures inner innocence reaching across adult conflict.
A stencil artwork depicting an armed soldier aiming at a photographer, while the photographer’s camera is aimed directly back. The piece challenges the dynamics of power and representation. More by HIJACK!: 42 Inspiring Street Art by HIJACK
A stenciled figure of a worker holding paint brushes and a bucket stands beside the slogan “Follow Your Dreams,” over which the word “Cancelled” is stamped in bold red. More!: 24 artworks by Banksy: Who Is The Visionary of Street Art?
Art has the power to capture emotions in a way words often cannot. These 15 street art pieces and sculptures express love, grief, hope, and longing in striking and unforgettable ways.
I’ve always been drawn to SMUG’s art—there’s just something amazing about how he brings everyday faces to life on such a massive scale.
Known worldwide for his super-realistic portraits, SMUG’s murals are incredibly detailed and often tower up to 14 stories high! His work isn’t just impressive; it’s a mix of creativity and skill, with each piece telling its own story through light, shadow, and careful detail.
When SMUG starts a mural, he’s not just copying a photo; he’s adapting to the wall in front of him. Every wall, with its own texture and quirks, becomes part of the artwork. Seeing him turn these challenges into part of the art is what makes his work so incredible.
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In Frankston, Victoria, Australia at The Big Picture Fest.
Be sure to keep up with SMUG’s latest creations by following him on Instagram. For more of SMUG’s remarkable works, check out our previous collection: See some of his older murals in this collection from 2011.
Don’t forget to share your photos of SMUG’s street art in our Facebook group, Your Street Art Utopia.
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Tribute to SMUGs grandparents in Melbourne, Australia.
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Photo by @thedreadedcatstudios
In Wirrabara, South Australia.
SMUG: Wirrabara, South Australia. One of my most challenging murals to date. I can’t imagine anyone actually enjoys painting 30m tall murals on a curved surface but, contrary to just about everything I said when I finally finished this, I’m kind of keen to do another one! Haha! I love rural Australia and really regret that I didn’t have more time to spend there to fully appreciate it.
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In Leicester, UK at Bring The Paint Street Art Festival.
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In Karlstad, Sweden for Artscape.
SMUG: One of the most absorbant walls I’ve ever worked on so I killed A LOT of cans on this one and spent a couple of days longer than I wanted to on it.
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In Kreuzberg, Berlin at Berlin Mural Fest.
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This two Squirrels are from Street Art Festival in Belgium.
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For Project SAATO in Paris, France.
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In Västervik, Sweden at BANK! Västervik Street Art.
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At Upeart in Kotka, Finland.
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At Waterford Walls Street Art Festival in Ireland.
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Mural in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
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At Yardworks in Glasgow, Scotland.
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In Melbourne, Australia.
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For Artscape in Årjäng, Sweden.
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At Wonderwalls Festival in Wollongong, Australia.
SMUG: It was a real push to finish this one. Ended up only having 3 days after the local authorities threw their weight around trying to stop us. Plus for a Sunday sunset haired dude like me it was freaking hot as all hell!
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In North Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
SMUG: Painting the local legend Cam, who drops knowledge on everyone and carves these beautiful heart brooches for the women of Hobart to help them fall in love with him. Not my usual color palette but had a lot of fun painting this one.
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For Colour Tumby Street Art Festival in Tumby Bay, Australia.
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In Glasgow, Scotland.
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In Melbourne, Australia.
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Photo by @fredrikakerbergPhoto by @fredrikakerbergPhoto by @fredrikakerberg
Mural in Partille, Göteborg for Artscape.
SMUG: My wall for this years Artscape project in Partille, Göteborg. This year we were given a folk tale to base our murals on and I was given the tale of Revontulet. In the Finnish origin story of the Aurora Borealis a firefox wins favor of the villagers by igniting the sky with the Northern Lights to help a lost hiker find his way in the icy woods. This is now the tallest mural in Sweden and whispers are saying the tallest in Scandinavia.
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Mural paying tribute to farmers by Smug in Lameroo, Australia for Lameroo Silo Art. Curated by Juddy Roller.
Lameroo Silo Art: The incredible Lameroo Silo Art Project is officially completed on the Eastern Viterra Silo, in Lameroo, South Australia. The mural was completed in just 3 weeks, by the extraordinarily talented Sam ‘SMUG’ Bates, at the heels of art curators Juddy Roller! This artwork beautifully reflects Lameroo’s rich farming routes, paying tribute to the resilience of our pioneering farmers, in establishing life and livelihood. The picture aims to capture the essence of the Mallee farmer—a symbolic representation of unwavering spirit and hope, which is still alive in our community today.
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Photo by Gordon Terris.
By SMUG in Glasgow, Scotland.
In collaboration with the Govan Housing Association in honour of its 50th anniversary, inspired by the Govan-born ‘Daffodil King’, Peter Barr. Barr is credited with bringing the daffodil back into fashion in the late 1800s, and the Memorial Cup is given out each year to those who follow in his footsteps and advance the standing of daffodils.
What do you think of SMUG’s street art? Do you have a favorite?
About SMUG from Vantage Point Radio (click link to here a podcast with SMUG): SMUG is, and has been for many years, one of the leaders in the clubhouse when it comes to realistic portrait murals.
Photo by @thedreadedcatstudios
Photo by @fredrikakerberg
Photo by @fredrikakerberg
Photo by @fredrikakerberg
Photo by Gordon Terris.
