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Giant 3D Paintings of Gummy Bears Cleverly Interact with People Passing By

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

In celebration of the recent Malta Street Art Festival, artist Leon Keer created an anamorphic painting of sweet treats. Giant gummy bears grace a boardwalk in Valletta, and they’re crafted in a 3D style that, when viewed from above, makes them appear as if they’re standing upright. To produce this illusion, Keer skewed his painting—the bears look warped when you’re standing next to them, but are in proportion once you’re more than 10 meters high. Coupled with crisp shading, the candies have a striking, realistic presence that looks almost natural among the people passing by.

Although candy is often associated with joyful emotions, the artist took a different direction with these gummy paintings. One green bear is seen lying on its side, and Kerr explains that it's supposed to be deceased. It's a poignant sight, but also a touching one, as the other bears gather to pay respect to their friend.

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer Gummy Bears

Leon Keer: Website | Flickr

My Modern Met granted permission to use images by Leon Keer.

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met, Manager of My Modern Met Store, and co-host of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. As an illustrator and writer living in Seattle, she chronicles illustration, embroidery, and beyond through her blog Brown Paper Bag and Instagram @brwnpaperbag. She wrote a book about embroidery artist Sarah K. Benning titled "Embroidered Life" that was published by Chronicle Books in 2019. Sara is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art. She earned her BFA in Illustration in 2008 and MFA in Illustration Practice in 2013.
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