The streets of French city Saint-Étienne weren’t exactly much to look at as this industrial coal mining town is still poor and affected by the economic crisis.

Then a young man’s vision made the grim cityscape a bit more cheerful. Clever and mysterious street artist who goes by the alias OakOak has made dozens of small art interventions all over his native city before spreading his art to other places in France.

His idea is not to interfere with the landscape itself too much but rather use what’s already there and turn a stain on the ground or a crack on the wall into a meaningful shape with just a couple of lines or prints. You can never know where to expect running into some of his work because he chooses not only the main streets, but secluded areas as well.

It’s amazing to look at the word through his eyes and see the way a creative mind discovers beautiful and meaningful images even in flaking plaster, sewer drain covers, broken glass and rusty pipes.

Don't forget to check out: