Street Artist Transforms Pavement Cracks Into Colorful Mosaic Masterpieces

Pavement Crack Mosaics by Ememem

Next time you're walking through a major European city, remember to take a look at the ground. You might come across an unexpected work of art. French artist Ememem—sometimes known as “the pavement surgeon”—fixes cracks and holes in the street and sidewalks by filling them with colorful mosaics.

The artist has a freeform approach to these on-site installations called “flacking,” which refers to the French word flaque, meaning puddle. Since no anomaly in the pavement is the same, Ememem has to adjust designs to suit the unique shape. This requires finding a special selection of ceramic, wood, and bitumen that matches his idea. As a result, his mosaics range from densely packed strips to large checkerboards.

Ememem began his project in his home city of Lyon but has since expanded his canvas to other cities in France. He's left his touch in countless corners of metropolises by healing neglected scars in the streets, one mosaic at a time. As a result, these works no longer look like a sign of neglect, but instead seem like beautiful surprises on the pavement.

Scroll down to see more mosaic art by Ememem and follow the artist on Instagram to make sure you never miss a project.

French artist Ememem adds art in unexpected places.

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

He fills pavement cracks and holes with colorful mosaic art.

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

He is healing fissures in European cities, one tile at a time.

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Pavement Crack Mosaics by Ememem

Cracks in the pavement no longer look like signs of neglect, but instead appear as beautiful surprises.

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Pavement Crack Mosaics by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Pavement Crack Mosaics by Ememem

Mosaics in City Streets by Ememem

Ememem: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Ememem.

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Margherita Cole

Margherita Cole is a Contributing Writer at My Modern Met and illustrator based in Southern California. She holds a BA in Art History with a minor in Studio Art from Wofford College, and an MA in Illustration: Authorial Practice from Falmouth University in the UK. She wrote and illustrated an instructional art book about how to draw cartoons titled 'Cartooning Made Easy: Circle, Triangle, Square' that was published by Walter Foster in 2022.
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