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What is the main factor that makes art what it is? It may sound like a rhetorical question or maybe too generic to find an answer that fits everyone. But for the purposes of this post, we can say that art has what it takes to make you stop right on your feet and trigger some pure, genuine awe — even for just a couple of seconds.

From the Sistine Chapel to “The Great Wave off Kanagawa,” plenty of works have captured people’s imagination and attention. But what about when you’re just walking down the street and see something so random yet beautiful that seems like it should belong to a museum? From the lines of a cracked phone screen to the ice on trees during winter, everyday objects can form patterns and shapes that are both awe-inspiring and unexpected. Whatever the case may be, you can’t help but stop and stare at this random piece of art that is just… there, in all its offbeat creativity and glory.

Not sure what we’re talking about? Time to show you then. Scroll down and take a look at this collection of unexpected art, aka art gems hiding in plain sight! We’ve scoured the internet to find some of the best examples of art in everyday life, shared by the people who captured them! Each picture is unique, and all of them are proof that you never know where the next piece of accidental art might be hiding. They all challenge traditional notions of what art is and where it can be found — and the best part? They weren’t born with the intention of being art, making their beauty all the more remarkable!

#1

In Cute Cat News, My Mom Put Up An Easter Decal On Our Front Door And It Makes Gigi Look Like A Dr. Seuss Character

In Cute Cat News, My Mom Put Up An Easter Decal On Our Front Door And It Makes Gigi Look Like A Dr. Seuss Character

drewsoulman Report

#4

Rainstorm Creates A Watercolor Painting On Windshield

Rainstorm Creates A Watercolor Painting On Windshield

anthson Report

#5

Art Only Nature Can Create. My Fence This Morning After A Snowy Night On Terschelling, The Netherlands

Art Only Nature Can Create. My Fence This Morning After A Snowy Night On Terschelling, The Netherlands

Greien218 Report

#7

Sunset Reflected In A Broken Mirror

Sunset Reflected In A Broken Mirror

sivribiber Report

#8

Took A Small Squirt Of My Shaving Gel, And Got A Little Chicken!

Took A Small Squirt Of My Shaving Gel, And Got A Little Chicken!

KrzysisAverted Report

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#12

A Patient Experienced Claustrophobia And Had A Panic Attack During A Ct Scan

A Patient Experienced Claustrophobia And Had A Panic Attack During A Ct Scan

tomjulio Report

#14

The Corrosion On This Water Tap Looks Like A Map

The Corrosion On This Water Tap Looks Like A Map

Luke-Skywalk Report

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Julia Mckinney
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wait, I think I live near there! How'd a map of my town end up on your faucet? Someone call the North American Cartographer Association and ask.

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#17

At First I Thought This Was Mosaic Tile, Until I Got Closer And Found It Has Been In The Sun Too Long

At First I Thought This Was Mosaic Tile, Until I Got Closer And Found It Has Been In The Sun Too Long

TidalPod Report

#19

The Aftermath From A Tornado That Passed Through Mayfield Kentucky - On Display

The Aftermath From A Tornado That Passed Through Mayfield Kentucky - On Display

TehBamski Report

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Thegoodboi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

*wearing 3D glasses* It's almost like it's really happening!! Oh...

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#21

The Opening In This Wall Looks Like A Piece Of Art Hanging On It

The Opening In This Wall Looks Like A Piece Of Art Hanging On It

JSaltyRae Report

#24

This Tree Stump Looks Like A Really Cool Skyline

This Tree Stump Looks Like A Really Cool Skyline

Schodog Report

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#26

Oranges Photographed Through The Glass Panes Of A Greenhouse

Oranges Photographed Through The Glass Panes Of A Greenhouse

mikeleus Report

#27

Icicle Shaped Like A Hummingbird

Icicle Shaped Like A Hummingbird

imgur.com Report

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#29

A Pen Exploded On Our Office Wall, So I Converted It Into A Modern Art Exhibit

A Pen Exploded On Our Office Wall, So I Converted It Into A Modern Art Exhibit

scottsinct Report

#30

My Daughter Dumped Out Her Acrylics In The Sink

My Daughter Dumped Out Her Acrylics In The Sink

imgur.com Report

#31

The Guy At Walmart Looked At Me Like I Was Weird For Taking A Picture Of My Paint Before He Could Mix It

The Guy At Walmart Looked At Me Like I Was Weird For Taking A Picture Of My Paint Before He Could Mix It

TJAH Report

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#34

A Clock In A Server Room Where I Work Is Accidental Modern Art

A Clock In A Server Room Where I Work Is Accidental Modern Art

liamski1902 Report

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Domi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It reminds me of that image of a clock running out of space.

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#38

Work In A Paint Store, The Tint Came Out Looking Like A Volcano Erupting

Work In A Paint Store, The Tint Came Out Looking Like A Volcano Erupting

Cazie Report

#39

Spilled Flour On Black Countertop = Cosmic Event

Spilled Flour On Black Countertop = Cosmic Event

Electronic_Potato166 Report

#40

I Dropped Some Water, Opened The Table Extension To Dry And A City Landscape With Temples And Pinnacles Appeared

I Dropped Some Water, Opened The Table Extension To Dry And A City Landscape With Temples And Pinnacles Appeared

Roccobot Report

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#41

When You Fill The Soap With Remnants From Multiple Soap Bottles And Accidentally Make A Mana Potion

When You Fill The Soap With Remnants From Multiple Soap Bottles And Accidentally Make A Mana Potion

dickfromaccounting Report

#43

Paper Jammed In My Scanner And I Accidentally Created Abstract Art

Paper Jammed In My Scanner And I Accidentally Created Abstract Art

whatislife4 Report

#45

These Natural Art By Fungus On My Mom's Kitchen Cupboard Wall

These Natural Art By Fungus On My Mom's Kitchen Cupboard Wall

abu_tva Report

#46

Accidental Art: Water, Chalk, LEGO Dried On A Table

Accidental Art: Water, Chalk, LEGO Dried On A Table

bakedbeans2 Report

#47

Accidentally Took A Photo With My Phone Inside My Pocket, Created A Wonderful Effect

Accidentally Took A Photo With My Phone Inside My Pocket, Created A Wonderful Effect

jawasaregae Report

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#49

Our Campsite Matched Our Meal Cover Art

Our Campsite Matched Our Meal Cover Art

waffelman1 Report

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#50

A Piece Of Art At The Office - Displays The Live Ticker Tape Headlines, Thrown Into The Trash

A Piece Of Art At The Office - Displays The Live Ticker Tape Headlines, Thrown Into The Trash

dpintoman Report

#51

The Photo Taken Through My Bathroom Window Looks Like A Real Piece Of Art

The Photo Taken Through My Bathroom Window Looks Like A Real Piece Of Art

LaRoso Report

#52

I Spilled Some Coffee In My Lunch Box And The Stain It Created On The Cover Of My Books Looks As If It Is Part Of The Cover Art.

I Spilled Some Coffee In My Lunch Box And The Stain It Created On The Cover Of My Books Looks As If It Is Part Of The Cover Art.

StinkyPinkSock Report

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#53

This Potato We Pulled From Our Garden Looks Like A Vegetable Art Piece

This Potato We Pulled From Our Garden Looks Like A Vegetable Art Piece

minimalistdesign Report

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fair_weather_rose
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I see a person leaning on one arm and scratching the back of their neck with the other.

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#54

I Had Prepared A Few Agar Plates And Stored Them In A Poorly Sterilized Bag For A While. Now It Has Become Art

I Had Prepared A Few Agar Plates And Stored Them In A Poorly Sterilized Bag For A While. Now It Has Become Art

lou-jay94 Report

#55

Coffee Stain Kitty

Coffee Stain Kitty

reddit.com Report

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Shyla Bouche
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thank you, thank you, I know I'm beautiful. If anyone else needs a model, I charge one mousie toy, two socks, and a can of tuna.

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#56

Enter The Quantum Realm (Jasmine Tea Left Overnight)

Enter The Quantum Realm (Jasmine Tea Left Overnight)

MonkeyBananaRainbow Report

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#57

I Washed My Car And Was Treated To Some Interesting Patterns In The Frost The Next Morning

I Washed My Car And Was Treated To Some Interesting Patterns In The Frost The Next Morning

dave21779 Report

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#59

The Tube On My Expanding Foam Can Cracked, Resulting In This Mess. The Glove Is Irremovable

The Tube On My Expanding Foam Can Cracked, Resulting In This Mess. The Glove Is Irremovable

drmpl Report

#60

I Accidentally Painted A Silhouette Of A Forest In My Last Sip Of Coffee

I Accidentally Painted A Silhouette Of A Forest In My Last Sip Of Coffee

imgur.com Report

#62

Accidental Art

Accidental Art

anticafard Report

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#65

The Way My Glass Door Shattered

The Way My Glass Door Shattered

littlepetrabbits25 Report

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#66

My Coffee Break At San Francisco Moma Yesterday Turned Into Accidental Art

My Coffee Break At San Francisco Moma Yesterday Turned Into Accidental Art

FNFollies Report

#69

Accidental Map On A Dish Soap Bottle In The Kitchen Of A Car Workshop

Accidental Map On A Dish Soap Bottle In The Kitchen Of A Car Workshop

HideABear Report

#71

I Cracked My Screen Protector And It Created A Beautiful Piece Of Landscape Art

I Cracked My Screen Protector And It Created A Beautiful Piece Of Landscape Art

iMiserable Report

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Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The beauty thing is, if it's just the screen protector they can carefully peel it off and put it on a bit of cardboard and keep it as a pretty picture

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#73

This Onion In My Taco Looks Like Digital Art

This Onion In My Taco Looks Like Digital Art

mai_hauran Report

#75

Dendritic Patterns In A Container After Removing A Block Of Frozen Blackberry Juice

Dendritic Patterns In A Container After Removing A Block Of Frozen Blackberry Juice

HideABear Report

#76

Accidental Dirt Art

Accidental Dirt Art

nnkosinathi123 Report

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#77

Left A Stick Of Glue In An Old Glass With Pencils, It Opened Over The Summer And Made Art

Left A Stick Of Glue In An Old Glass With Pencils, It Opened Over The Summer And Made Art

Whitenesivo Report

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#78

A Giant Poster Was Ripped Down At The Mall And Left This Behind

A Giant Poster Was Ripped Down At The Mall And Left This Behind

randomcanoeandpaddle Report

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#82

I Accidentally Spilled Some Gallium On A Pair Of Scissors And Made Modern Art

I Accidentally Spilled Some Gallium On A Pair Of Scissors And Made Modern Art

InterstellarOrange Report

#83

Took A Picture Of The Full Moon Out Of My Picture Window And Unwittingly Superimposed It Over The Mountain Painting Hanging On The Opposite Wall

Took A Picture Of The Full Moon Out Of My Picture Window And Unwittingly Superimposed It Over The Mountain Painting Hanging On The Opposite Wall

hampopkin Report

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#84

The Lidless Eye Of Sauron

The Lidless Eye Of Sauron

KingBarbarosa Report

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#86

This Door Was Left In The Rain Before It Was To Be Installed

This Door Was Left In The Rain Before It Was To Be Installed

harlsey Report

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Sonja
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh my it's beautiful! I'd cover it with a thin veneer of resin and install it as is

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#87

My Friend Gave Me Her Senior Pics But I Accidentally Ran Them Through The Wash

My Friend Gave Me Her Senior Pics But I Accidentally Ran Them Through The Wash

ManNipplesYay69 Report

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#88

The Mold On The Bottom Of This Old Foosball Table Looks Like A Work Of Art

The Mold On The Bottom Of This Old Foosball Table Looks Like A Work Of Art

Livid_Narwhal Report

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#89

I Threw Out Some Ground Cinnamon At Work And It Spontaneously Created Art And Extra Terrestrial Hieroglyphs

I Threw Out Some Ground Cinnamon At Work And It Spontaneously Created Art And Extra Terrestrial Hieroglyphs

nonamebeats Report

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#92

The Turntable In My Spray Booth

The Turntable In My Spray Booth

ltron9k Report

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John Power
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Turn Turn Turn.... there is a time to every purpose under heaven" - Byrds

#95

Yesterday's Wine Glasses Were Soaking In The Kitchen O/N Because We Were Too Lazy To Wash Them. Today I Found This

Yesterday's Wine Glasses Were Soaking In The Kitchen O/N Because We Were Too Lazy To Wash Them. Today I Found This

a_pinch_of_maggie Report

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#97

The Scratched Paint On Our Bathroom Wall Looks Like A Face With A Big Pointy Nose

The Scratched Paint On Our Bathroom Wall Looks Like A Face With A Big Pointy Nose

TheKatkaRapu Report

#99

Voila! Bowl Sans Pasta

Voila! Bowl Sans Pasta

the_sodfather Report

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#100

Accidentally Impressionist Photo Thanks To High Zoom

Accidentally Impressionist Photo Thanks To High Zoom

AllHailtheBeard1 Report

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#101

Dirt Of The Balcony Carpet. Looks Like Roots

Dirt Of The Balcony Carpet. Looks Like Roots

Cetx Report

#102

This Satisfying Imprint In My Carpet When I Moved My Wood End Table

This Satisfying Imprint In My Carpet When I Moved My Wood End Table

ScruffleMcDufflebag Report

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#103

A Woman With Cascading Curly Hair Over Shoulder

A Woman With Cascading Curly Hair Over Shoulder

labnelady Report

#104

A Fish From A Chemical Reaction

A Fish From A Chemical Reaction

LittonTD Report

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#105

Leaves On Concrete

Leaves On Concrete

DarkDayzInHell Report

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#106

I Was Making A Cad Drawing Of A Laser When The "Projected View" Tool Got Stuck. I Clicked Frantically To Resolve The Problem

I Was Making A Cad Drawing Of A Laser When The "Projected View" Tool Got Stuck. I Clicked Frantically To Resolve The Problem

EventHorizon5 Report

#107

This Towel My Wife Accidentally Bleached That Looks Like An Odd Couple Kissing In A 17th Century Painting

This Towel My Wife Accidentally Bleached That Looks Like An Odd Couple Kissing In A 17th Century Painting

mikkiex97 Report

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#108

The Light Bouncing Off This Wheel Made An Interesting Pattern

The Light Bouncing Off This Wheel Made An Interesting Pattern

imgur.com Report

#109

Then: Stack Of 2x4s... Now: Art Piece

Then: Stack Of 2x4s... Now: Art Piece

candymay22 Report

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#110

The Soap That I Clean Paintbrushes With Is Also Art

The Soap That I Clean Paintbrushes With Is Also Art

kaptionless Report

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#111

Owl Print! An Owl Has Pretty Clearly, Flown Into My Window. Leaving A Very Detailed Splat

Owl Print! An Owl Has Pretty Clearly, Flown Into My Window. Leaving A Very Detailed Splat

VitiateKorriban Report

#112

I Put This Coaster Over My Berocca Glass To Stop It Spraying Everywhere When It Dissolved. I Call It “Dawning Of A Million Suns”

I Put This Coaster Over My Berocca Glass To Stop It Spraying Everywhere When It Dissolved. I Call It “Dawning Of A Million Suns”

Notherereally Report

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#113

Accidental Psychedelic Art

Accidental Psychedelic Art

araccoonwithabiggun Report

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#115

This Display Of Notebooks At My Local Goodwill Looks Like Modern Art

This Display Of Notebooks At My Local Goodwill Looks Like Modern Art

sozh Report

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#116

A Ceramic Stone After A Long Day Of Knife Sharpening

A Ceramic Stone After A Long Day Of Knife Sharpening

DifferentElevator326 Report

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#119

No Use Crying Over Spilt Coffee

No Use Crying Over Spilt Coffee

PatonBMX Report

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#120

When The Cherry Dropped

When The Cherry Dropped

Sleepyhead_WTMB Report

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Leoninus Fate
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I guess you could say they *puts on sunglasses* "Popped their Cherry! YEAH!

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#121

Water Droplets Left By A Wet Dish Rack

Water Droplets Left By A Wet Dish Rack

michellerelley Report

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#122

Oil Leaking From The Bottom Of A Washing Machine = Gross Spin Art

Oil Leaking From The Bottom Of A Washing Machine = Gross Spin Art

cowslaw Report

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#123

The Reflection Of A Cloud On This Building Looks Like Pixel Art

The Reflection Of A Cloud On This Building Looks Like Pixel Art

CC-42069 Report

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#125

Yesterday's Rainy Day Pics. What A Difference A Day Makes

Yesterday's Rainy Day Pics. What A Difference A Day Makes

wingsgirl64 Report

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#126

This Is The Story Of A Good Snowfall On Wrought Iron

This Is The Story Of A Good Snowfall On Wrought Iron

fanieville Report

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#127

Ink Rags Should Be A Recognised Art Form. Or An Accidental, That's Cool, Too

Ink Rags Should Be A Recognised Art Form. Or An Accidental, That's Cool, Too

tante-sansa Report

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#128

Uncontrollably Leeking Spray Paint Can That Changed Everything

Uncontrollably Leeking Spray Paint Can That Changed Everything

Wierd_eric Report

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#129

Maybe I’m Just High But This Glaze Looks Like Water Splashing

Maybe I’m Just High But This Glaze Looks Like Water Splashing

Speaty101 Report