Artists love to push boundaries, sometimes creating works so massive or unusual that they land in record books. This quiz looks at some of the most impressive, scale-defying creative achievements in history.
You will see questions about massive canvas paintings, record-breaking street art, and legendary masterpieces with staggering valuations. Some answers might be surprising.
When you finish, you can explore more unusual work in art curiosities, learn about contemporary art, or read about famous artists.
Which artist created the massive canvas ‘The Journey of Humanity’, which was once certified by Guinness World Records as the largest painting on canvas?
Damien Hirst
Damien Hirst
Jeff Koons
Jeff Koons
Sacha Jafri
Sacha Jafri
Banksy
Banksy
Which famous painting holds the Guinness World Record for the highest known insurance valuation in history?
The Scream
The Scream
Mona Lisa
Mona Lisa
Sunflowers
Sunflowers
The Starry Night
The Starry Night
What is the name of Sacha Jafri’s record-breaking painting, which was sold at auction in 2021 to raise millions for children’s charities?
The Path of Life
The Path of Life
The Story of the Ball
The Story of the Ball
The Journey of Humanity
The Journey of Humanity
The Tree of Life
The Tree of Life
On top of which famous historical landmark did artist Guo Feng create the record-breaking 1,014-meter-long drawing ‘Yongsheng’?
The Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China
The Eiffel Tower
The Eiffel Tower
The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal
The Colosseum
The Colosseum
Approximately how large in total area is Sacha Jafri’s painting ‘The Journey of Humanity’, certified by Guinness as the largest art canvas?
1,600 square meters
1,600 square meters
2,000 square meters
2,000 square meters
1,200 square meters
1,200 square meters
2,400 square meters
2,400 square meters
What was the theme of the world’s longest drawing by an individual, created by artist Guo Feng on the Great Wall of China?
The history of the Silk Road
The history of the Silk Road
The development of civilization
The development of civilization
Traditional Chinese mythology
Traditional Chinese mythology
A continuous mountain landscape
A continuous mountain landscape
In which decade was the world record for the ‘largest painting on canvas’ finally set in Dubai?
1990s
1990s
2020s
2020s
2010s
2010s
2000s
2000s
Guinness has recorded an artwork created entirely using which unusual medium to depict famous celebrities?
Toothpaste
Toothpaste
Oil paint
Oil paint
Human hair
Human hair
Coffee
Coffee
Where was the painting ‘The Journey of Humanity’ displayed when it earned its Guinness World Record?
A hangar floor
A hangar floor
A stadium pitch
A stadium pitch
A desert runway
A desert runway
A hotel ballroom
A hotel ballroom
Approximately how long was the record-breaking longest drawing by an individual, created by artist Guo Feng on the Great Wall of China?
1,014 meters
1,014 meters
814 meters
814 meters
914 meters
914 meters
1,114 meters
1,114 meters
Which of these is a recognized, albeit unusual, Guinness record-breaking art medium?
Paint applied using robotic arms
Paint applied using robotic arms
Paint made from spices
Paint made from spices
Paint made from flower petals
Paint made from flower petals
Etchings made with laser beams
Etchings made with laser beams
In which country was the world’s largest canvas painting officially certified by Guinness in 2021?
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
United States
United States
China
China
France
France
How long did it take the artist to complete ‘The Journey of Humanity’?
7 months
7 months
8 months
8 months
6 months
6 months
9 months
9 months
Which of these is a documented Guinness World Record category for an unusual way of painting?
Finger painting without hands
Finger painting without hands
Painting with a nose
Painting with a nose
Painting underwater
Painting underwater
Painting while skydiving
Painting while skydiving
Which art medium was used to create the world’s largest anamorphic (3D) pavement art record?
Chalk art
Chalk art
Floral carpet
Floral carpet
Stamp mosaic
Stamp mosaic
Sand sculpture
Sand sculpture
The largest 3D pavement chalk art, created in Venice, Florida in 2014, measured approximately how much in surface area?
1,100 square meters
1,100 square meters
2,100 square meters
2,100 square meters
3,100 square meters
3,100 square meters
4,100 square meters
4,100 square meters
The 2014 record for the largest 3D pavement chalk art was set at which of these locations?
A repurposed cruise ship shell
A repurposed cruise ship shell
A major airport terminal
A major airport terminal
A school playground
A school playground
A public square in London
A public square in London
In 2013, a group of students in India set a record by creating a massive mosaic portrait of freedom fighter Bhagat Singh using which of these objects?
Used chewing gum
Used chewing gum
Old postage stamps
Old postage stamps
Recycled plastic bottles
Recycled plastic bottles
Rubik’s Cubes
Rubik’s Cubes
Approximately how many Rubik’s Cubes were used to construct the record-breaking mosaic portrait of Bhagat Singh in 2013?
6,000 cubes
6,000 cubes
7,000 cubes
7,000 cubes
9,000 cubes
9,000 cubes
8,000 cubes
8,000 cubes
Which of these is an official Guinness World Record involving artistic materials?
Total weight of paint cans in a mural
Total weight of paint cans in a mural
Largest paint can mosaic
Largest paint can mosaic
Height of a clay sculpture in centimeters
Height of a clay sculpture in centimeters
Distance of a drawing in meters
Distance of a drawing in meters
During which decade did the trend of ‘mass-spectacle’ art records, like the longest street drawing, begin to surge in popularity?
1990s
1990s
1980s
1980s
2010s
2010s
2000s
2000s
What was the primary motive behind the creation of the record-breaking ‘Journey of Humanity’ painting?
To promote a luxury fashion house
To promote a luxury fashion house
To celebrate a national holiday
To celebrate a national holiday
To honor a deceased world leader
To honor a deceased world leader
To support a children’s charity
To support a children’s charity
You can do better
Not bad
Great!
If you enjoyed these record-breaking stories, check out some travel curiosities, look up historic famous landmarks, or read about painting techniques.
