Not every great piece of art is hung from the walls of a fancy museum with marble walls and ancient artifacts. In fact, some of the most incredible art can be found on the streets of Portugal.  Portugal is known as the birthplace of graffiti, and with so many street artists in one location it takes a lot to be recognized as one of the best at the craft.

Odeith, a talented Portuguese street artist who creates 3D graffiti that literally appears to be floating in the air, is one of the best. Odeith’s careful skills ensure each 3D masterpiece tricks the eye into thinking the artwork is leaping off of the wall and into the street. Take your time looking at the photos, as there is such more to analyze and dissect. Check out his stunning street art below!

Each distinct piece is full of detailing and bright illusions that take time to fully soak in. Notice how his paintings appear to cast shadows and give off light, making the 3D quality of his work that much more spectacular.

In an interview with Bored Panda Odeith revealed, “I was kind of tired of the conventional regular 3D letters so I was always searching for something original. I got my first leg from one letter coming out of the wall. Since then, I’ve always been trying to reach a new level.” And a new level Odeith has certainly reached with his latest works of dramatic street art.

Born in 1976, Odeith picked up his first spray can in the mid 1980’s. Yet it wasn’t until the 1990’s that his love for spray painting really took off, right alongside the boom of street art taking place in Portugal at this same time.

He started small, sketching out works of art on local street walls and train tracks. His talents showed through clearly and before long he was given the opportunity to create large murals in Damaia, Carcavelos, along with other social housing neighborhoods, including Santa Filomena, Cova da Moura, and 6 de Maio.

From early on Odeith showed great interest in shading, which he started calling “sombre 3D.” His overall goal is to create images and messages that stand out for their realism, as well as technical skill.

Odeith explains how his work has developed and grown over the years. If you look at some of his first work compared to his street art today, you can see the changes in both his artwork and style as the years go by.

Odeith has always loved art, but he has never taken any art lessons. At only 15 he dropped out of school and worked hard to pursue his dreams as a street artist. He says, “I think everyone is capable of anything – you just really need to want to do it.”

Working with spray paint isn’t the easiest tool of all, and it takes a lot of practice to get it just right. Odeith explains, “It takes a lot of time to reach a higher level of perfection. Spray paint to a lot of artists may be a big headache, to know how to get the quality you desire.”

Odeith’s advice to anyone out there aspiring towards a dream, “Never quit your dreams if you’re a dreamer. And sometimes, it may take a few years to earn credibility.”

It took Odeith some time but he has certainly earned credibility in his field today. He now has a portfolio full of large-scale projects for names such as, Coca-Cola, Samsung, London Shell, and many more.

Thanks for the inspiration and the incredible 3D street art, Odeith!