The Strangest Art Exhibits From Around The Globe

Art is one of our greatest forms of expression; however, sometimes the artist seems to blur the line between creative and just plain strange. There’s inspiration behind everything we do, but you will be quite shocked at what inspires some artists. Here is a list that is composed of some of the strangest art exhibits from around the globe.

“Mixed Signals”

This Traffic Light Tree is by artist Pierre Vivant. It features 75 sets of traffic lights in the shape of a tree to promote the natural landscape of London, while the lights show the never-ending rhythm of the city.

There’s an Elephant in the Room

Würsa 18000Km from Earth is by Daniel Furman, and this piece is meant to conceptualize the gravitational pull of bodies to the Earth. At 18,000Km from Earth, gravity would actually be too weak and an elephant would be able to hold itself upright on its trunk.

Horse Race

This is The Mustangs of Las Colinas, and it can be found in Texas. This statue is one of the largest sculptured horses in the world. Each horse is 1.5 times bigger than a real horse; each foot contains a valve that shoots water to mimic the effect of a real horse galloping.

Where Did He Go?

The Travelers can be found in Marseilles, France. This statue is comprised of separate pieces that are normally placed in different locations from each other, making a puzzle for people to find throughout the city until he is complete.

Perception

This sculpture is Nelson Mandela by artist Marco Cianfanelli, and it is located in Howick, South Africa. The sculpture is positioned along the R103 road where Mandela was captured by apartheid security in 1962. Nelson then spent 27 years in prison.

Interpret This

The Son of Man is a painting done in 1964, by artist Rene Magritte. This is actually supposed to be a self-portrait. Interpret this as you will.

Easily Done

This is one of the most infamous minimalist works of art to date. This painting is called Black Square and it is by artist Kazimir Malevich. It was created during the Suprematism period. Most people comment on the extremely simple piece; however, most people are probably kicking themselves for not coming up with it first, as this piece is worth $60 million.

Hungry Hippos

This piece is located at the Taipei zoo in Taiwan. These hippos appear to be swimming through the concrete. It reminds us of the game “Hungry Hungry Hippos.”

Let it Go to Voicemail

This piece is called Lobster Telephone by artist Salvador DalÃ. The inspiration behind this piece was the artist’s dislike for technology and the love of dreams. The lobster evokes a fantastical element, juxtaposed by an every-day object, such as a telephone.

Just Some Light Reading

This sculpture is called Carved Book Landscape by Guy Laramee. It was inspired by the way people seemingly only have one use for books – to read them.

Grab your Glasses

Wigan’s piece is a recreation of Michelangelo’s David carved from a single grain of sand.

Repurposed Trash

Artist Paul Villinski specializes in eco art, where he repurposes trash or discarded items into something that symbolizes nature.

Chewed Gum

Maurizio Savini has perfected a different kind of art. He chews gum, and while the gum is still hot he shapes it with a knife.

Thrown Up Art

Millie Brown might have perfected the most disgusting form of art yet. She eats color-coordinated foods and then she vomits them onto her canvasses

A Pile of People

This is the Monolith and it is the highest point in Oslo, Norway’s Sculpture Park. It’s created by Gustav Vigeland. Its interpretation is hazy, and whether it represents man’s ascension to heaven or the longing for saving, the interpretation is mostly up to the viewer.

Deep See Blu Surrounding You

Artist Laure Provoust created the Deep See Blu Surrounding You and it’s meant to serve as a political commentary amidst the Brexit dispute. Her inspiration comes from “a liquid and tentacular environment, questioning who we are, where we come from, and where we are going.”

Just Hanging with my Buds

Gunther von Hagens uses willing cadavers from Chinese prisons in order to create his exhibits. He injects a liquid plastic sealant into the bodies and sculpts and molds them into his envisioned scene. There’s a lot of controversy around his work.

Going for a Swim

This is statue is called First Generation by Chong Fah Cheong. The neat part is no matter what angle you look at this from, each face tells a different story.

Burning the Candle

Artist Steve Spuzak uses a technique called “fumage,” to create his artwork. He allows soot from a candle to collect on a canvas and then he uses tools to create an image around the debris.

A Goodbye Present

“The artist who recreated himself,” is Hananuma Masakichi. When he learned he was dying of TB, he sculpted a statue of himself out of wood. The sculpture was made out of 2,000-20,000 pieces of dark wood, and the sculpture was meant to be a goodbye present to his wife- so he would always be with her.

Self

Artist, Marc Quinn’s series “Self” is created by taking nine pints of his own blood and he uses it to mold a sculpture of his own head. He redoes this project every five years to document his real-time aging.

Gold Paintings

Artist, Lina Viktor doesn’t use paint in her work; she actually uses a real gold leaf, and adds one-third more gold to each painting she creates.

Dream Seeker

Dalà based most of his work off of dreamscapes. When he napped he was able to find a way to access the “hypnagogic realm” – the state between dreaming and awake. He would balance a key over a metal plate, and once he felt himself begin to fall asleep, the key would fall and wake him. He was rested just enough, but he was still able to record the dreams he might have had on the edge being unconscious.

Coffin House

The man behind American Gothic, Grant Wood outfitted his house with a coffin door while he worked- with a dial. The dial let his friends and family know what he was doing. It said “Having a Party,” “In,” “Out,” and “Taking a Bath.”

Hoarders

Andy Warhol’s habit of storing “collectables” formed Time Capsules. It stemmed from his obsession with collecting. Stored all kinds of things in his apartment such as; cards, letters, and strange finds like Caroline Kennedy’s birthday cake and a mummified foot.

Alien

Artist H. R. Giger is most known for his design work on the film Alien. His work is well-known, and quite iconic. His pieces mainly focus on the idea of man merging with machine.

Readymade Art

Marcel Duchamp is known for his “readymade” art. He just takes everyday objects and calls them art. Fountain, was the main point of debate, and the curators wondered whether or not they should hide the piece from view.

It’s the (Computer) Key to this Art work

Artist, Choi Jung Hyun makes his pieces out of keyboard keys and computer mice. He uses the mice to represent living animals.

Creepy Bread

Artist, Kittiwat Unarrom sculpts lifelike body parts out of bread. This piece looks like it could be out of a horror film.

Hand Art

Artist, Guido Daniele uses human hands to paint his artwork on. At times he will even use the physical shape of the hand to represent the image, where other times the hand just serves as the canvas.

Art Never Dies

Vincent Van Gogh actually only sold one or two paintings while he was alive. However; today, he is one of the most famous painters in history.

Left a Steady Job to Pursue a Passion

Gauguin’s paintings were underappreciated and ridiculed; however, today his paintings are worth millions. He left a steady job as a stockbroker so he could pursue his passion for art. Unfortunately, it never worked out while he was alive.

The Vatican

Raphael was given the honor of painting the Pope’s private room in the Vatican, also where his masterpiece The School of Athens can be found.

Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte

Georges Seurat only lived as a working artist for nine years. Since then, his piece Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte is one of the most famous art pieces in the world. Unfortunately, he died from meningitis at 31 years old.

Van Gogh’s First Big Piece

The Potato Eaters features was Van Gogh’s first major piece. It displayed dark tones and a heavy-handed style, which is a huge contrast from his later, more well-known work.

First Painting

Dalà painted Landscape Near Figueras, when he was only six years old- that’s incredible!

First Big Piece

Georgia O’Keefe won an award for this painting in college. Her later work is less dark and creepy, and it actually focuses more on florals and bright colors.

Michelangelo’s First Big Piece

When he was only about 12 years old, Michelangelo painted this. He has only completed one of four known easel paintings in his life, and The Torment of Saint Anthony is one of them.

Andy Warhol’s First Big Piece

This was actually the first painting Andy Warhol displayed in an art gallery. There are 32 canvasses, each representing all of the different types of Campbell’s soup cans.

Leonardo da Vinci’s First Big Piece

The Adoration of the Magi was commissioned by the Chapel of St. Bernard in the Palazzo Vecchio. He abandoned the project before it was complete, so it took him years to finish it.

Pablo Picasso’s First Big Piece

When he was nine years old, Le Picador completed this painting of a bullfighter.

Frida Kahlo’s First Big Piece

Frida Kahlo made this portrait of herself, Self-Portrait in a Velvet Dress. She made it for her boyfriend, Alejandro Gomez Arias. The background is the sea, which symbolizes life.

I Want to Ride my Bicycle

This is another readymade piece, Bicycle Wheel by Marcel Duchamp.

Feminism in a Time Before it was Cool

Artist, Roy Lichtenstein is known for his comic strip style, and he experimented with the 1960’s version of pop art by trying to make it accessible to the everyday person.

Two Vaccums

Jeff Koons is a readymade icon. He takes something that is available to everyone and places the product in an unexpected location.

Light Bulbs

Artist, Felix Gonzales-Torres was experimenting with form while living through the AIDS era. The lights display the fragility of life with the fact that the light will eventually burn out.

The First Emoji’s

This piece of art work visualizes the transition between textual and pictorial language.

When Art Imitates Life

Measuring the Universe by Roman Ondak- can only be experienced by participation. Each person marks their height on the wall like they did when they were children, as this piece plays a unifying factor with everyone who visits the museum.

Horror Film Artist

Keith Thompson has worked on many horror films directed by Guillermo Del Toro, as well as video games and books. He is an illustrator and creature designer.

Scott M. Fischer is the Illustrator Behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Scott M. Fischer focuses on the process of alchemy, and his style and elements come through in each art piece he creates. He sometimes paints on copper, and he works with lyrical line techniques.

Female Artists Enjoy Horror Art too

She is not only an avid gothic dresser, but Anne Stokes is a fan of gothic architecture and dark imagery.

Music, Horror, and Art

The co-founder of Viral Graphics is Alexandros Pyromallis. He has provided unique poster art for bands like The Melvins, Soundgarden, and Swans. His influences include; horror films, metal of death, monsters, and fear.

DZO

Olivier, also known as DZO- is an illustrator, who was influenced by aesthetics of old etchings and religious engravings, witchcraft, occult manuscripts, and blasphemy.

Metal Album Cover Artist

Wes Benscoter is mostly known for his metal album covers for bands like Black Sabbath, Morticia, Kreator and Autopsy, Cattle Decapitation, and Slyer.

Just Your Typical Prom Night

Aly Fell would rather work within the “gothic” genre rather than “horror.” She resonates with music, fashion, visual art, and literature.

Sci-fi Hall of Famer

Michael Whelan is one of the most well-known science fiction editors in the business. In 2009, he was inducted into the Sci-Fi Hall of Fame. His work provokes more of a subtle feeling of fear rather than disgust.

Illustrating Your Fears

After her mother died, Laurie Lipton realized she could disconnect herself form the fear of death- by drawing it. She illustrates the things frighten her.

Art Inspired by Life

Godmachine is inspired by the aesthetic of the video store he would go to growing up. Fictional places create a launching pad for his art.

The Monument of an Anonymous Passerby 

The Monument of an Anonymous Passerby can be found in Wroclaw, Poland. It depicts everyday people at different stages of life. It shows that, no matter the circumstances or what economic class they are in, we are all able to come together to perform easy everyday tasks such as, walking the city streets.

A Contemplative Piece

This is located on Danube River in Budapest, Hungary. A collection of vintage shoes sit on the edge of the river. It’s a contemplative piece.

Break Through

Break Through From Your Mold is a piece that can be found in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This piece promotes individuality.

Twisted Gun

The Knotted Gun, mainly promotes a message of anti-violence; however, there are a lot of possible interpretations for this piece.

Don’t Trip

This piece can be found in Brussels, Belgium. Just don’t trip over it!