The World Street Painting Festival Route 66 Artwork

In partnership with the World Street Painting Foundation of the Netherlands and international 3D street artists, Visit Joplin has created a series of 3D street paintings with Route 66 themes at locations on Route 66.

3D street painting is an art style that creates an optical illusion, resulting in a three-dimensional image that appears to pop right out of the ground. The art form challenges the perception of space and reality. By distorting an image across a surface, artists can make it appear correct only from a specific viewpoint. That is why the art is best viewed from standing atop the footprints painted below each painting.

An annual festival, during which the paintings are created, will continue to take place the first week of June 2026 and 2027, celebrating the 100th birthday of Route 66 in 2026.

The 2024 trio of paintings were painted by three diverse U.S. artists, each employing slightly different techniques. The works can be viewed on the outer porch of the Harry M. Cornell Arts and Entertainment Complex at 212 S. 7th Street in Joplin. The paintings are not visible from the street; visitors may park in the Cornell Complex parking lot.

The single work on the west side of the building is by Nate Baranowski, a native of South Bend, Indiana. This highly detailed work features a seasoned rider on a vintage motorcycle fully enjoying a Route 66 experience. The vintage ride is complete with a sidecar upon which the participant sits to be immersed in the ride -- along with the goggle-wearing pup.

The other two pieces are located on the front porch of the building along 7th Street Route 66.

Orlando, Florida, artist Naomi Haverland created a flying VW Bug with Route 66 branding. With its bright orange look, this fun image offers interaction by standing atop the car as if surfing, seated for the ride of a lifetime, or even lying down as if holding on for dear life.

Chris Carlson of Denver, Colorado, provides a 3D take on life on the open road and driving the rolling hills. The viewer straddles the motorcycle, squats down as seated, grabs the handlebars, and enjoys a cruise along Route 66. The photograph is taken from behind the driver from the passenger's view.

In 2025, ten more works were added to the collection in Schifferdecker Park at the corner of 7th Street (Route 66) and Schifferdecker Avenue.