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Street Artist Turned 45 Boring Street Objects Into Works Of Art (New Pics)

Miami Wynwood Brooklyn New York Boston

If you're seeking a surprise while strolling through a grey, concrete urban landscape, you simply must see the art installations crafted by the New York-based artist Tom Bob. Many of you may already be familiar with this artist, particularly if you've been part of our community for some time. If not, fear not—you now have the opportunity to check out Tom's earlier works before diving into his latest collection.

What sets his work apart is his ingenious incorporation of everyday objects such as pipes, radiators, bike racks, light sensors, and many others into his vibrant, colorful art pieces. These paintings feature whimsical characters engaging with their surroundings in playful and captivating ways.

More info: Instagram

#1 Call Me, New Your City

Image credits: tombobnyc

We reached out to Tom Bob and asked him some questions about his work. We wanted to get a glimpse into his transformations of everyday objects into whimsical characters, and we learned that: “When walking the streets, the surprise of running into cool objects to paint is always an adventure.

Sometimes the object tells me what it is, other times it takes me a while to figure out what to make it. I liken it to Michelangelo's quote about carving the statue of David: he said ‘David was always in the marble, I just had to bring him out.’ That's how I see everyday objects and transform them.”

#2 Flower Garden, Pinecrest, Miami, Florida

Image credits: tombobnyc

#3 UFO, Pembroke Pines, Miami, Florida

Image credits: tombobnyc

Tom has shared with us how he goes about choosing the locations for his new art installations: “During the Covid lockdown, I would get on Google Maps and do street views of cities around the world, I have hundreds of ideas I would love to make from objects found online. Some pieces I make are not approved, most are. There are many factors in getting them made, it's not like a studio practice where if I have a great idea, I can just make it, that's the frustrating part. Some cities are very open and accepting of street art, while others are more conservative and don't want change.

I love seeing neighborhoods full of murals, graffiti, and street art. It's the most democratic art form and the biggest art movement worldwide in the past 20 years. As an artist, that's the community I want to be part of.”

#4 Shark, Wynwood, Miami, Florida

Image credits: tombobnyc

#5 Cyclops, Miami, Florida

Image credits: tombobnyc

The artist told us more about his creative process: “I start by creating sketches of my ideas, I get measurements of the object, pipes, vents, etc. and create stencils. I then use spray paint to color the pieces. The emotion I try to create is happiness. I want to create a simple graphic style much like a road sign, so the viewers who are mostly on social media can read them quickly as they scroll through their feeds, giving them a smile as they go about their day.”

#6 Corn, Boston, Massachusetts

Image credits: tombobnyc

#7 Giraffe, East Village, New York City

Image credits: tombobnyc

Asked about typical challenges he encounters while working on his street art projects, Tom answered: “There are many challenges when working on the streets. The weather is always a factor, locations, equipment, ladders, etc. It's like camping, you have to make sure you have all your supplies when on the streets, especially when working alone, which I mostly do.”

The artist added: “Forgetting something is problematic, dealing with deadlines is always stressful.”

#8 Lipstick Girl, East Village, New York City

Image credits: tombobnyc

#9 Elephant, Boston, Massachusetts

Image credits: tombobnyc

Lastly, we found out more about Tom’s creative plans: “At the moment I am working on studio portraits of street artists. I would love to make bigger street art pieces in the future, water tanks, etc.”