Graffiti Artist Creates Amazing Street Art Illusions Using Only Spray Paint

Illusion Art by Vile Graffiti

Portuguese graffiti artist Vile wields his spray cans like a laser cutter, expertly “carving” his name into concrete and stone. His amazing technical abilities allow him to create stunning optical illusions whereby his name appears as a window cut into the side of a wall.

Vile has been painting graffiti since he was a teenager and honed his artistic skills via coursework in animation and illustration. His training has clearly paid off, as executing such convincing illusions takes time, preparation, and patience. The most challenging part of his creative process is color matching, as the palette must be selected carefully in order to make the final product convincing.

Take the case of his latest illusion, where “VILE” is sprawled against a cement wall. Vile uses his painted letters to “expose” the decaying room within and selects his paint colors based on the actual hues found within the abandoned space. With the light constantly changing throughout the day and transforming the colors, Vile's selection process is no easy feat.

Surprisingly, it took just one day for the Portuguese artist to complete this illusion. Of course, he came armed with preparatory sketches and the proper color scheme so that he could move quickly on-site and focus on the painting.

Portuguese graffiti artist “carves” through ordinary walls with his name, creating convincing illusions.

Illusion Art by Vile Graffiti

 

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A post shared by 💥VILE💥 (@vile_graffiti) on

These before and after photographs show the striking trompe l'oeil effect achieved with spray paint.

Crazy Graffiti Tag

Crazy Graffiti Tag

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Illusionistic Graffiti by Vile

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Illusionistic Graffiti by Vile

Check out more incredible graffiti illusions by Vile.

Illusion Art by Vile Graffiti

Crazy Graffiti Tag

Illusion Art with Spray Paint

Vile Graffiti Optical Illusion

Vile: Website | Facebook | Instagram

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Vile.

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Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Staff Editor and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book "Street Art Stories Roma" and most recently contributed to "Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini." You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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