23 Amazing Murals by 'Jan Is De Man' That Made His City Smile

Are apartment buildings boring? Apparently not for Jan Is De Man. This Dutch muralist is out here doing God's work - transforming anonymous bland buildings into talking bookshelves, giant eyes that stare back at you, and realistic looking illusions so perfect you'll swear the paint is opening up a window.

What sets Jan apart is how his murals don't just slap pretty colors on concrete - they belong to their place. He uses the shape of walls, windows, and neighborhoods as part of the art. He has painted bookshelves filled with locals' favorite books, given houses faces, turned façades into stacked shelf illusions, and made giant cheerful 3D giraffes that interact with trees. His work is playful but precise; whimsical but grounded.

With these 23 amazing murals, you'll see everything from optical illusions and book-filled façades to subtle commentary and bursts of color where none existed before. These are the folks whose cities I want to take a walk through—just to soak in the walls.

Author image for John Summers John Summers
Advertisement

Tags

design fail architecture clever design smart interesting buildings designer bad design building beauty good design graphic design beautiful
Scroll Down For The Next Article

Also From Geek Universe

38 Examples of Mild Vandalism That Honestly Made Things Better

38 Examples of Mild Vandalism That Honestly Made Things Better

Trending Now

32 Photos of Teen Bedrooms from the 80s and 90s That Will Take You Back

32 Photos of Teen Bedrooms from the 80s and 90s That Will Take You Back

01
28 Lord of the Rings Memes for OG Fans Who Were There 3000 Years Ago (September 11, 2025)

28 Lord of the Rings Memes for OG Fans Who Were There 3000 Years Ago (September 11, 2025)

02
Before The Neverending Story: The Strange and Surreal Artwork of the Author’s Dad, Edgar Ende

Before The Neverending Story: The Strange and Surreal Artwork of the Author’s Dad, Edgar Ende

03
38 Eye-Watering Hugh Fleming Artworks That Belong in a Museum

38 Eye-Watering Hugh Fleming Artworks That Belong in a Museum

04
This Flood of 90's Era Video Game Print Ads Is a Welcomed Wave of Nostalgia

This Flood of 90's Era Video Game Print Ads Is a Welcomed Wave of Nostalgia

05
32 Unhinged Wizard Memes That Get Progressively Weird as You Read On

32 Unhinged Wizard Memes That Get Progressively Weird as You Read On

06
Advertisement