Art
CategoryFrom traditional to avante-garde, art is a ubiquitous component of the urban landscape. Taking a broad definition of “urban art”, Urban Ghosts features a wide variety of unique works from thought-provoking individuals, with a focus on recycled art created from discarded objects – which fits neatly with our coverage of the abandoned and the re-purposed.
The Strange Scarecrow Village of Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island, with its traditional Celtic music and winding Cabot Trail, is a popular tourist destination. But visitors flocking to this romantic island may happen across an altogether different type of roadside attraction – Joe’s Scarecrow Village.
Optimus Prime Transformed into Recycled Art Installation
In the wake of this summer’s Transformers 3 movie, a number of full scale Optimus Primes have appeared on the Beijing skyline – built from salvaged scrap metal with the look of recycled art installations.
Urban Furniture: Vintage Radiator Becomes Modern Chair
Ornate vintage radiators are common in abandoned buildings, and offer captivating subjects for photographers intent on documenting the modern ruins of today. But it’s nice to see them adapted for reuse, like this incredible radiator chair from Hi Octane Design.
Massive Model of Shanghai Could be World’s Largest Miniature City
In what could be the ultimate example of urban art, this incredible scale model of central Shanghai – set in 2020 – fills an entire room of over 100 square metres on the third floor of the Shanghai Urban Planning Museum.
See No Evil: The UK’s Largest Urban Street Art Project
The See No Evil street art project, held from August 18th – 20th, has seen Nelson Street in Bristol transformed by some of the world’s largest urban art creations. Artists from across the world joined the event in Banksy’s home town.
Rusty Monsters: Bizarre Recycled Art in Hanksville, Utah
On a road trip from Utah’s Goblin Valley to Kanab, travel enthusiast Frank Kovalchek was surprised to discover these bizarre metal monsters – crafted from reclaimed scrap – guarding an abandoned motel.
What Happened to Houston’s Tunnel House Art Installation?
Those familiar with the project will know that this incredibly creative piece of urban art in Houston, Texas, was less demolished than deconstructed during its final days. But what finally happened to the inspired Tunnel House?
Evil Eyes: Recycled Glass Art
These “Evil Eyes” by Bedrock Industries illustrate the growing trend in recycled art – reusing discarded glass and other castoffs in a creative and colourful manner while drawing attention to the importance of recycling.
Mano del Desierto: The Giant Hand of the Atacama Desert
Emerging from the sand of Chile’s Atacama Desert, Mano del Desierto – or Hand of the Desert – by Chilean sculptor Mario Irarrázabal, looks like the vestige of a lost civilisation, representing human vulnerability and helplessness.
Urban Canvas: Graffiti or Urban Street Art in Philadelphia?
These bright murals splashing colour across rundown walls amid abandoned buildings and deserted streets make us question the line between art and graffiti. Either way, there’s no questioning the creativity of the street artists behind them.
EVOL: Street Art Featuring Miniature Abandoned Cities
We’ve explored miniature abandoned cities displayed amid real abandoned buildings. But street artist EVOL takes this concept to a whole new level, with these spectacular wall stencils inside a forgotten Dresden slaughterhouse.
Downed MiG-21 Fighter: Both Urban Art and Tragic Monument
This wrecked MiG-21bis fighter plane was downed during an attack on the Croatian village of Saborsko on November 9, 1991. Its mangled metal looks like a piece of urban art, but also stands as a tragic reminder of the events that came to pass nearby.
Urban Art: Unregistered Cities by Jiang Pengyi
Chinese artist Jiang Pengyi takes urban art to a new level in his thought provoking series, Unregistered Cities, critiquing what he calls the “excessive urbanization, redevelopment and demolition” of Beijing.
Apocalypse Illustrated: Digital Disaster Art by Steve McGhee
Those familiar with Graham Greene’s “The Destructors” will recognise the ironic concept of destruction as a form of creation. Canadian artist Steve McGhee takes this idea to a whole new level, turning the urban landscape into a chaotic dystopia.
Chloride: Urban Art in Arizona’s Living Ghost Town
Chloride, Arizona is one ghost town that is still very much alive. Home to the strange Chloride Murals by artist Roy Purcell, the town’s population is comprised of an eclectic mix of retired business people, families and artists.
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