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Staircases give walls and ceilings a run for their money when it comes to being a canvas for vibrant and emotive art around the world.

From a community project in San Francisco to labours of love in Rio de Janeiro and Istanbul to elaborate promotional stunts, stairs provide a 3D surface for expression and beauty.

For Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron, the decoration of the dilapidated steps at the front of his home turned into a world famous feature of Rio.

In Istanbul, Huseyin Cetinel, a retired forestry engineer, wanted to 'make people smile' when he a massive set of steps in rainbow colours in his home city.  

Meanwhile, Salavador Dali's face when Rocky Balboa once famously ran or a stunning traditionally-dressed women welcoming opera-goers show eye-catching ways for organisations to lure in the masses.

Here are some of the world's most remarkable painted and decorated staircases...

National tribute: The Escadaria Selaron is a world famous set of steps created by Chilean-born artist Jorge Selaron. He fancied up a run-down walkway with what he called 'my tribute to the Brazilian people'

Making his mark: Selaron began his work at the front of his house but just kept going with tile and mirror mosaics and painting - he funded the labour of love with the sale of his paintings

Humanity:  The Holsteiner Stairs in Wuppertal, Germany, were given a colourful makeover by artist Horst Glasker. He painted the 112 steps and then stencilled words that, when translated, mean terror, love, prosecution, trust, despair, hope, revenge and kiss - they all relate to the nature of human relationships

 

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Traditional: This stunning work could be a carefully decorated wall were there not a man walking on top of it - the costumed woman was painted to at the front of a Seoul art centre to promote a local opera

Surreal! The steps of the Philadelphia Museum - probably best known around the world as the scene for the famous montage in the first Rocky film - were adorned with the face of Salvador Dali for a major retrospective of the surrealist's life's work

Community project: The 16th Avenue Tiled Steps Project is an elaborate collaboration between Golden Gate Heights Neighborhood Association and artists

Vibrant: Istanbul man Huseyin Cetinel painted this staircase (left) to 'make people smile'. Colourful cases such as this one (right) can be found around Beirut, Lebanon

Monumental: The Staircase of Santa Maria del Monte can be found in the old town of Caltagirone in Sicily. The 142-step staircase was established in 1608 is decorated with ceramic tiles on the risers while elaborate floral and candle arrangements are added