A German artist couple has captured hearts at street art festivals across Europe with their extraordinary chalk drawings of oversized insects and nature scenes, despite knowing their creations will vanish with the next rainfall. Matthias and Kati Klose-Kanniga have been making waves in the international street art scene for two years, transforming ordinary pavement into magical worlds filled with giant ants, spiders, and other tiny creatures brought to life on a massive scale.
Street painting has become a global phenomenon, with artists from around the world showcasing their talents at increasingly popular street art festivals. These temporary masterpieces, created with pastel chalks or color pigments on asphalt and other sealed surfaces, are not meant to last forever. After the first rain, the artwork that creators have meticulously painted on streets literally flows toward the storm drains.
"I watched our first painting sadly as it washed away in the rain, but that feeling quickly passed," Kati Klose-Kanniga joked about their introduction to this ephemeral art form. The couple, originally from Berlin but long-time residents of the Swabian region, speaks enthusiastically about their experiences at these unique festivals and markets.
The Klose-Kannigas' deep love for nature permeates every aspect of their lives. This philosophy is reflected not only in their personal environment but also in their landscaping business, where they create individual and nature-focused garden installations. It's no surprise that they choose to magnify the small creatures that crawl and fly in nature, making them the stars of their street art.
This year, the couple made two appearances in Wil, near St. Gallen, Switzerland, where their giant ants drew attention from both children and adults. Selected from among 300 international applicants, the Binsdorf residents became the stars of Street Art Swiss, particularly beloved by young visitors.
During one memorable project, the event organizers reserved two separate areas for the couple that were 300 meters apart. To connect these two spots, they painted exactly 89 ants crawling from point A to point B, working under floodlights through the night to complete the ambitious connection. This challenge resulted in an all-night painting session, but the final result and visitor response made the effort worthwhile.
"The children participate with so much joy, and parents are often amazed at how beautifully and focused their little ones work on their art," said Matthias Klose-Kanniga, a grandfather of three. The couple always brings plenty of time and extra chalk for children, helping them create colorful masterpieces. Girls typically gravitate toward ladybugs while boys prefer spiders, and Matthias always has stories ready about these tiny creatures.
The passionate beekeeper's approach to judging children's work reflects his philosophy of encouragement over competition. When asked to serve as a juror at a street art event and select the best from 70 pictures created by children and teenagers, his evaluation convinced the entire jury to adopt his approach: "We only give first places – I won't take away the children's fun and motivation."
At the festival in Blumberg, their 3D spiders became popular photo opportunities for visitors. In Geldern, their grandchildren Lukas and Anna joined grandma and grandpa, sometimes creating whimsical "silly bugs" on the asphalt. The couple's work received its highest recognition at their fifth and final event of 2025, where they earned first place.
During the third weekend of September, the public voted them as their favorites, and the first place was awarded with a golden brush. The Binsdorf artists prevailed among six professionals and are thrilled with the recognition. "Our professionalism is and remains our profession in garden and landscape construction," the artistic couple assures, while sharing their work on social media under the handle Kanniga_Artenvielfalt (Kanniga_Biodiversity).
The unique atmosphere among participating artists and organizers, special encounters and conversations with visitors both young and old, plus the complete experience with live music and delicious food, motivates the couple to continue planning for next year. Their wish list includes street art events in Meran, Vienna, Wilhelmshaven, and Holland.
For the winter months, Kati and Matthias Klose-Kanniga have a special idea in development. While they haven't revealed all the details, they hint that this new project will take them back to their childhood and holds particular significance for their hearts.
