3D Street Art is created by painting, chalking or drawing a horizontal surface from one perspective. When the completed picture is viewed through a camera from the same position and perspective the picture appears to look three dimensional. It’s an art from that’s been documented since fifteenth century Italian painters used the effect to decorate the villa’s of the wealthy.

Since then 3D Street Art has been used in the last ten years not only to entertain and beguile but has also become popular with brands to advertise their products. As the demand has increased so has the ambition of the artists to create ever more creative and spectacular pieces including designs that incorporate both horizontal and vertical surfaces and in 2011 the pictures became even bigger and bolder.

3D Street Art went big in 2011, big enough to break several World records. As we continue to be astounded and impressed by this incredible anamorphic art I have created a top ten list of the most spectacular, creative and popular pieces of 3D street art created by artists around the world during 2011. I’ve based the selections on creativity, scale and ambition and attention gathered. I look forward to your comments on which are your favorite piece’s of 2011.

More:

• Collection of 3D Street Arts (Part I)
• Collection of 3D Street Arts (Part II)

#10. Special Delivery

"Special Delivery" was created by Melanie Stimmell for the FringeMK Festival in Milton Keynes, UK in June 2011. Stimmell was the only U.S based artist invited to the festival to show off her incredible "Renaissance Style" art.

#9. Interactive 3D Picture

This "Interactive 3D Picture" was painted by Manfred Stader at a shopping centre in Gdansk, Poland in June 2011 and creates the 3D illusion with both horizontal and vertical pieces combines to add further depth to the trick of the eye.

#8. The Beatles

"The Beatles" were painted by the Planet Street Painting team for the James Carling Pavement Art Festival in Liverpool in October 2011.

#7. Santas Grotto

Veteran 3D street painter, Julian Beever made a surprise late appearance in December of this year with his "Santas Grotto" picture in Camberley, UK. Beever is one of the most famous and well known 3D street art painters and he took 4 days to create this piece in chalk.

#6. Wunderful Life

"Wunderful Life" by Street Advertising Services. The team at SAS created this wall and floor piece which measured 100 square metres in London. Unusually for 3D street art, the picture was completed with aerosol paint and is reputed to be the worlds first photo-realistic 3D graffiti.

#5. Phoenix

Edgar Muller, who is probably the third most popular 3D street artist (Kurt Wenner and Julian Beever are 1st and 2nd) created this amazing picture in Michigan, USA. Titled ‘Phoenix’ by Muller. The picture was created for the City Art Gallery in August 2011 and drew crowds of people over a week who posed for photographs with the artwork.

#4. Lego Terracotta Army

Lego Terracotta Army created by Planet Street Painting for the Sarasota Chalk Festival in November 2011. The piece won best 3D piece of the festival and publicity for the picture was created by a giant Lego man washing up on the beach before the festival began.

#3. Visit Britain

The VisitBritain Tour by Joe Hill. British Artist Joe, toured several countries around the world creating attention with for famous UK landmarks and events with his 3D artwork. This particular piece was shown in Shanghai, China and was created with the art being painted on two walls and the floor.

#2. Reebook Crossfit

Joe Hill also created this stunning piece at the London Docklands for Reebok Crossfit. The piece took a week to create and was 106.5m long and broke the World Guinness record for being the longest anamorphic picture. Unfortunately, the record only stood for a month, because on December the 6th 2011 Chinese artist Qi Xinghua broke the record, again.

#1. Central Shopping Centre

Qi Xinghua broke the record with his piece in Macau, China. The picture was 120m long and was created to celebrate the second anniversary of the Central Shopping Centre in Macau. It is the second time Xinghua has held the record for having the longest anamorphic picture and I look forward to seeing if his record holds in 2012.