8 Street Artists Turn Urban Blight Into Beauty

Published February 1, 2014
Updated March 6, 2018

Street Artists: Mademoiselle Maurice

French artist Mademoiselle Maurice made a big splash at the 2013 ARTAQ Festival in Angers, France, with more than 30,000 pieces of origami that she composed into two amazing street art installations. Embodying street art’s populist roots, the people of Angers were able to participate in the project by attending workshops to learn the art of origami.

Their creations were then assembled to create a mural on the banks of the Maine river, a geometric pattern at the entrance to the Saint-Maurice cathedral and a rainbow-colored composition on the steps leading up to it. Often creating works of geometric complexity, Mademoiselle Maurice has also created urban installations in Hong Kong and Vietnam.

Street Artists: Julian Beever

Julian Beever

Source: Pinterest

There are a number of artists who have mastered the art of pavement drawings, or using chalk to create “three-dimensional” images on sidewalks. Perhaps the best known of these artists is Julian Beever, who has gained an international reputation for his spectacular illusions.

Street Artists Julian Beever

Source: Brain Den

Sinkhole Street Art

Source: Blogspot

Sometimes called the “Pavement Picasso,” Beever was born in the United Kingdom and studied art at Leeds Metropolitan University. Transcending place, his works have astounded countless Internet users around the world who have been exposed to them through viral emails and postings. The 10-part TV series Concrete Canvas profiled Beever, who also made waves in the publishing world when his book, Pavement Chalk Artist, was released in 2011.

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All That's Interesting
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Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.
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Savannah Cox
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Savannah Cox holds a Master's in International Affairs from The New School as well as a PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and now serves as an Assistant Professor at the University of Sheffield. Her work as a writer has also appeared on DNAinfo.