While most artists paint clouds, Berndnaut Smilde makes them.

Using a precise mix of fog machines, humidity, and lighting, the Dutch artist conjures ghostly clouds inside rooms.

Real, floating vapor suspended in time and space. His surreal series, aptly titled Nimbus, transforms abandoned churches and sterile hallways into fleeting dreamscapes.

The magic? Each cloud lasts only seconds before it vanishes. But in that breathless moment, it’s pure poetry: soft, luminous, and entirely out of place.

Smilde’s work captures the impossible. A weather phenomenon with a shelf life of mere seconds, but an emotional weight that lingers much longer.

Turns out, you can bottle a cloud. You just need to let it go immediately after.

See more on Smilde’s website.

Images © Copyright Berndnaut Smilde.

A spacious hallway with high ceilings, featuring yellow and black tiles, and a white cloud suspended in the center.
A white cloud formation floating in a spacious, elegant interior with a checkered floor and large windows.
Interior of a large, historic building with a wooden ceiling, featuring a cloud of smoke or mist emanating from a platform in the center.
A room corner featuring a grey wall with a blue accent molding, wooden floor, and a large, fluffy white cloud in the center.
A large, fluffy white cloud floating in an empty, old room with arched windows, worn walls, and a black-and-white tiled floor.
An art installation featuring a cloud of smoke in an empty gallery space, with large reflective surfaces on either side.
A room with purple walls and a cloud of white smoke in the center, featuring a partially wooden floor and construction elements visible around.
Art installation featuring a cloud suspended in a spacious, modern architecture interior.
An empty room with blue walls features a large cloud of white smoke in the center, illuminated by overhead lighting.
A white cloud appears in a modern indoor space with escalators, featuring a textured wall and large windows in the background.

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1 Comment

  1. Maria Smith

    The clouds are the coolest thing I’ve seen in forever. I’m going to share this with my Gifted Teacher friends.

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