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There’s A Genius Street Artist Running Loose In New York, And Let’s Hope Nobody Catches Him
American artist Tom Bob is running loose in the streets of New York, and let's hope nobody catches him.
Using street "furniture" like poles or electrical terminals, Tom creates colorful and whimsical pieces that interact with their surroundings. From turning a sewer into a frying pan, to transforming gas meters into quirky lobsters, Tom Bob is making the city a much happier place for everybody.
If you liked Bob's creative and witty work, check out the famous French OakOak (here, here, and here) whose art you might find equally entertaining.
More info: Instagram (h/t: ufunk)
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Eleni Aggeliki 8 years ago
Well, hello Ringo! Got blistets on your fingers? (Beatles fan here )
Stan Milton 12 months ago
Wonderful...If the city erases them, we know we are in dystopian times.
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#2
Miklós Nagy 8 years ago
Nice. Except that the colors of those pipes are actually signs for the repairmen so he would know what is inside them... (grey is for non-fireable gasses, red is for fire-quenching fluids.)
M O'Connell 8 years ago
That may be true in your area, but it should be fairly obvious to everyone that these are gas pipes. Around here, the only required color for gas piping is that rooftop mounted pipes must be yellow.
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Nancy Jenkinson 8 years ago
Too bad they didn't show the entire scene, it's fantastic! https://www.instagram.com/p/BWeis4Wlo9t/?taken-by=tombobnyc
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Karen Greenfield 8 years ago
They are all great, however, the simplicity of this one and the girl on the chain link fence are just fantastic.
#5
Pat Wooster 8 years ago
What an imagination! Would anyone think 'elephant coming out of a circus wagon'? Not me!!!
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
I love elephants so this is definitely going to get a nice big up vote from me ☝🏽 💕 💝🐘
Bambi Everson 8 years ago
I love all of these. I wish you had said where they were so i could see them live and before some idiot paints over them!
CarolineLuv Swain 8 years ago
Super brightens it up I love it love to see stuff like this around my neighborhood
#6
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
I forgot about them! Are those still existing anywhere?
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#7
Kirsa Rasmussen 8 years ago
The key is in the wrong place in the keyhole - shame, since it is a great idea
Beth Kaiser 8 years ago
Maybe it is the kind of skeleton key with teeth top and bottom: skeleton-k...on_key.jpg 
Ernest Anderson 8 years ago
Not in the wrong place some keys were made this way. Not to mention it looks better centered
Amber Vaughan Norbury 8 years ago
The key is exactly where the artist wanted it to be and therefore it couldn't possibly be in the wrong place. To all the people saying it's wrong - I think you were scarred by your kindergarten teachers. Color that duck blue if you want it to be blue 😉
Carol Aranda 8 years ago
Why all the complaints? I see an Artist who is a genius! Just to come up with these to make the world a lot better. So, Amber, you are correct, if the artist wants it there he can!
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Mastretta Fitz 8 years ago
All saying the key is misplaced, but it could be a failed attempt to open someone's heart. Depends on how you look at things.What an Amazing artist.
Dan Medzy 8 years ago
Regardless it would at least look way more awesome in the right spot..
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Fernanda Caldas 8 years ago
Kirsa Rasmussen, it is not in the wrong place. It is an old style key, is in the center.
Carole Anderson 8 years ago
Wrong..I live in an old house woth an old-fashioned key. The key in this artwork is indeed misplaced.
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Anna Sheridan 8 years ago
There is two normal barrels on the right look like they are having a conversation lol
#9
John L 8 years ago
Lara, it works all the time. The rest of the day she's Mary Poppins. :D
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Char Char 8 years ago
I would probably stand there waiting for the shadow to reach the spot. I have no life.
Fernanda Caldas 8 years ago
That's the beauty of it. Feel luck if you be there at the right time. 😊
Ryan Hartford 8 years ago
I'm trying hard not to insult the people saying the shadows are painted... So if that shadow is painted, then where is the actual shadow? Wouldn't there be two 'shadows' on the ground? Hmmm...
William Wenzel 8 years ago
I think that the actual shadow is at the bottom of the picture.
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#10
John L 8 years ago
Not to worry, its just a gator. Its crocks you really have to worry about. Gators generally will leave you alone if you don't bother them. :D
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Darrell Cole 8 years ago
WOW I hope they never ever find this talented artist. If they do I hope the city will employ him full time to beautify the city with his sometimes whimsical creations
#11
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
Brilliant use of all the dull, plain objects. I'd love for Tom Bob to brighten up our town ❤😀
#12
#14
Debbie Detmer 8 years ago
Why there you are, Rosie! George, Jane and the kids are missing you!
#15
#16
Mike Greco 8 years ago
I am a mature adult. One who understands that your contributions to this site are super lame.
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#17
#19
Bobby Jones 8 years ago
We're whalers on the moon, We carry a harpoon, For they ain't no whales So we tell tall tales And sing our whaling tune
Paul Bridges 5 years ago
R2D2 and C3P0 in pirate mode. Love it. (Though 3P0 would make a horrible pirate.)
Perry Leduc 8 years ago
This and the pacman one a few pictures up are both in New Bedford Ma. NBMA.
#20
TheJorgSacul 8 years ago
This may happen in my neighborhood soon, um, I'm just saying it's possible...
#21
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
Even painting such a simple design makes the area brighter and more cheerful 💕
#23
John L 8 years ago
🎼"Hot Time, Summer in the City. Back'a my neck getting dirt and gritty..........................."🎼
Maggie Collins 8 years ago
"gettin' burnt and gritty" I have always thought. could be wrong, dunno
Chief Bear Cloud 8 years ago
Could be Maggie. I never looked up the actual lyrics........ I just looked it up and it is "dirty and gritty". But in the actual song, they dropped the "y" and just kept going. Here's the video with lyrics ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qHwZN1X6BVw ).
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#24
#25
>>Lonely Fox<< 8 years ago
this one is super detailed... but his theres are so wonderfully whimsical! I don't really love this one.
#26
George Cowie 8 years ago
Hey! Critics! Did you consider that it might have been created with the property owner's permission? Well, did you?
Sharon Ingram 8 years ago
No, because everybody just HAS to be a negative nelly and show how much more enlightened they are. These are wonderful and brighten every spot.
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Nellie SWkr 8 years ago
Uhm naysayers did it cross your mind the homeowner may have done it?? Maybe they have kids. So much pessimism.
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
This is brilliant, imagine if it was facing the house and you just happened to look out the window and see it looking in at you...😲 💕 hahaha
#27
Terri Rowland 8 years ago
Guessing these are monkeys but why is there a spoon on the floor 💝 🥄 🐵🐒
Donna Oades 8 years ago
I think it's to go with the bowl of ice cream/porridge/whatever it's meant to be that's under the middle robot :)
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#28
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#31
Aaron Ling 8 years ago
Another Chinese here just reporting in that I am in no way offended by this piece of art.
Carrie Jo 8 years ago
Holly Sanford compared this to a Swastika. Social justice extremism in the flesh. Holly, you live in Bushwick and protest gentrification dont you...
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Fernanda Caldas 8 years ago
Daniel Daly.. Not at all. Which people wear that type of hat? 🤔 The offensive is in your head.
Charlie Malone 8 years ago
Lol, some people now days will say a stick that looks like dead worm would be offensive. That word get thrown around way to much. Apparently EVERYTHING is offensive. How about we take all you offended people and put you on your own little island, far far far away from Normal people, and you can offended each other till you croak! This person is Incredibly talented!
Nuniek Widiayani 8 years ago
farmers in my country used to be wear that kind of hat, prevent from heat
Mark Porteous 8 years ago
The guy makes light hearted art designed to put a smile on people's faces, and before the paint is even dry the professionally offended are on their high horses. Holly, can you offer me guidance on #12 please? I am a merchant seaman myself and am concerned that Popeye is reinforcing the stereotype of tattooed smokers who like to get in fights. I don't feel offended, but I worry that maybe I should.
Jaden Campogan 8 years ago
Cute! Not offensive at all. I'm Asian. My kids eyes are more Asian looking than mine. It is what it is.
#32
#33
Sally Drury 8 years ago
Alas, Mickey never really liked Swiss cheese and it ended up being the death of him.
#34
#36
Debra Kempthorne 8 years ago
We these all over out streets last spring, I coiled four of them up and put a black locust seed pod in front to look like a serpents tongue. (used a black marker for eyes)
Michael Reilly 8 years ago
It's anti-erosion stuff... straw in netting I think, placed along construction sites when the ground is torn up.
#37
#38
#39
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
That'll be also sad, this time because them dogs will urinate all over it. :p
#40
Darrin Robertson 8 years ago
That's a waiter, it's commentary on how every waiter in L.A. is an actor.
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Darrien Mae 8 years ago
I thought this was in New York?? Cuz this is the Hollywood Walk of Fame... Which I'm sure is why the shadow is an Oscar..
DancingToMyself 8 years ago
...and every waiter in LA trying to be an actor. It's an awesome and smart idea. :)
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Notwillywonka Shitt 8 years ago
THIS ONE IS GREAT BUT ITS ALSO NOT IN NEW YORK...... ITS IN HOLLYWOOD. SEE THE STARS ON THE SIDEWALK???
#41
#42
Full Name 8 years ago
How dare you sully what is otherwise perfectly innocent industrial garbage?!
William Wenzel 8 years ago
I've been waiting for a remark like yours. Good joke.
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#43
#44
Enid Mitchell 8 years ago
I was just thinking the same thing! It must cost him a fortune to buy all the paint, not to mention the time it must take to make all these brilliant art works!
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#45
Eleanor Hill 5 years ago
Scrolling through these has been the most delightful, enjoyable 15 minutes of my week!
Robert Forslund 8 years ago
Baaaaart!!! I guess that what he'd look like after Nelson and his friends finally dump him in the river and he'll wash up a month later! ^_^
#46
William Wenzel 8 years ago
I am constantly amazed at the talent and creativity is our world. To bad that outlets for this are hard to find.
Jeff Minton 8 years ago
Agree-ish. In this case it was the difficulty of project that seems to have generated the creativity. Great work often comes from confronting obstacles.
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What do you think ?
Evisa Isabella Rose 8 years ago
Loved all of them! Very creative and adding a much needed fun touch in the city! :D
Jo Bertels 8 years ago
New York City give this artist a job instead of hunting him down, he make this a much prettier world
Kelly Johnson 8 years ago
What a brilliant idea! I'd love to see this everywhere. Citys should pay people to brighten it up and promote good spirit!
June Pixeld 8 years ago
Very creative! Bumping into one of these while going around town makes the day more special
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
Brilliant! Do you think he might come to Chicago? We could use a shot of fun.
Evisa Isabella Rose 8 years ago
Loved all of them! Very creative and adding a much needed fun touch in the city! :D
Jo Bertels 8 years ago
New York City give this artist a job instead of hunting him down, he make this a much prettier world
Kelly Johnson 8 years ago
What a brilliant idea! I'd love to see this everywhere. Citys should pay people to brighten it up and promote good spirit!
June Pixeld 8 years ago
Very creative! Bumping into one of these while going around town makes the day more special
Aunt Messy 8 years ago
Brilliant! Do you think he might come to Chicago? We could use a shot of fun.
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