From cats playing with street lamps in Northern Ireland to a little girl joining bronze children in a park, these clever and playful works of public art were designed to make passersby smile. Here’s a collection of murals, interventions, and sculptures that brighten with imagination and humor.

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1. Cats Mural — Woskerski in Larne, Northern Ireland

A mural of two ginger cats, one sitting and the other reaching up toward a real lamp post, painted on the side of Ruby’s Bodega. The artwork blends with the streetlight, turning it into a toy for the cats. More!: 9 Times WOSKerski Made UK Walls Feel Like Glitches in Reality

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2. “E ‘Torre” — Giulio Masieri in Pordenone, Italy

A large mural of a reclining dog stretches across the wall of a building, its lifelike scale making the man standing nearby look small in comparison.

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3. R2-D2 With Flowers — EFIX in France

A playful piece featuring R2-D2 holding flowers and a heart, placed next to a trash can as if giving it a gift. The design transforms the mundane into a humorous Star Wars-inspired scene.

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4. Fake Shadows — Damon Belanger in Redwood City, California, USA

A shadow painted on the pavement shows a mailbox transformed into a dinosaur-like creature with teeth, reimagining the ordinary form in a surprising way. More!: Funny Fake Shadows! (20 Photos)

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5. Flashlight Beam — Golsa Golchini in Milan, Italy

A small painted figure of a child holding a flashlight appears to project a real beam of light across a wall corner, seamlessly blending painted and natural effects. More!: You Might Walk Past These—But They’re Tiny Masterpieces in Disguise

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6. Googly-Eye Bollards — Vanyu Krastev in Bulgaria

Concrete street bollards with cracks and added googly eyes transformed into playful characters resembling Pac-Man figures along the sidewalk. More!: Googly-Eyed Art (17 Photos)

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7. Nadine and the Last Autumnal Swimmer — David Zinn in Ann Arbor, USA

A chalk drawing shows a small green creature swimming in a tiled pool hidden in a square of pavement among fallen autumn leaves, with a mouse perched on the ledge. More!: Beautiful Autumn By David Zinn! (9 Photos)

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8. Playing With Statues

A child in a pink dress joins hands with bronze statues of children following a violinist, blending real life with sculpture in a park setting. More!: Playing With Statues (25 photos)

9. Pipe Shoes

Street pipes painted with chalk outlines of colorful shoes, turning the fittings into playful legs against the wall.

10. Flamingo Meter — Tom Bob in Massachusetts, USA

A gas meter and pipes are painted bright pink and transformed into a flamingo. The industrial hardware becomes part of a playful street art character. More by Tom Bob!: 33 Artworks by Creative Genius Tom Bob (That Will Make You Smile)

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11. Face in the Ruin — Nikita Nomerz

A derelict brick structure given large eyes and an open mouth painted around existing openings, turning the building into a character. More!: 17 Times Nikita Nomerz Brought Walls to Life

12. The Light Is All Around — Endo in Čačak, Serbia

Painted around a streetlamp, this mural shows an elderly man smiling and holding the lamp as if it’s a glowing staff. The golden light and warm tone enhance the friendly character’s presence. More photos here!

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Which one is your favorite?