Let’s welcome May with some new wallpapers! For over twelve years, we’ve challenged you, our dear readers, to create wallpaper calendars for our monthly wallpapers posts. No matter if you’re into lettering, illustration, or photography, the series is the perfect opportunity to create a small artwork and share it with people from all around the world — to brighten up someone’s day, cater for some fresh inspiration, or to put your creative skills to the test. Of course, it wasn’t any different this time around.
In this collection, you’ll find desktop and mobile wallpapers for May 2023, created with love by artists and designers who took on the challenge. They all come in versions with and without a calendar and can be downloaded for free. As a little bonus goodie, we also compiled a selection of timeless May favorites from our archives at the end of this post. Thank you to everyone who tickled their ideas and shared their designs with us this month! Happy May!
You can click on every image to see a larger preview,
We respect and carefully consider the ideas and motivation behind each and every artist’s work. This is why we give all artists the full freedom to explore their creativity and express emotions and experience through their works. This is also why the themes of the wallpapers weren’t anyhow influenced by us but rather designed from scratch by the artists themselves.
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Did you know that you could get featured in our next wallpapers post, too? We are always looking for creative talent.
The Mushroom Band
“My daughter asked me to draw a band of mushrooms. Here it is!” — Designed by Vlad Gerasimov from Georgia.
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with calendar: 800×480, 800×600, 1024×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1440×960, 1600×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 2880×1800, 3072×1920, 3840×2160, 5120×2880
without calendar: 800×480, 800×600, 1024×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1440×960, 1600×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 2880×1800, 3072×1920, 3840×2160, 5120×2880
ARRR2-D2
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.
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with calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
without calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
Blast Off!
“Calling all space cadets, it’s time to celebrate National Astronaut Day! Today we honor the fearless explorers who venture beyond our planet and boldly go where no one has gone before.” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.
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with calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×900, 1400×1050, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×900, 1400×1050, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
May Your May Be Magnificent
“May should be as bright and colorful as this calendar! That’s why our designers chose these juicy colors. We also have other options in our selection of May calendars.” — Designed by MasterBundles from Ukraine.
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with calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Chill Out
“Summer chill is a relaxed and carefree vibe that is often associated with the summer season. It is a time when people slow down and enjoy the warm weather. The atmosphere is laid-back and easy-going, with a focus on having fun and creating happy memories.” — Designed by Kasturi Palmal from India.
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with calendar: 800×600, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
without calendar: 800×600, 1280×1024, 1600×1200, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Moving Montains
“The month of May is a moving moment. I’m only writing this to set attention to the letter ‘M’! The ‘M’ inspired me, and my idea for the wallpaper was to make mountains, smooth mountains, of course.” — Designed by Philippe Brouard from France.
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with calendar: 1024×768, 1366×768, 1600×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 3840×2160
without calendar: 1024×768, 1366×768, 1600×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 3840×2160
Think Outside The Fox
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.
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with calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
without calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
Casablanca Style
“We spent spring in Casablanca. Enjoying the sunset while admiring the Hassan II Mosque.” — Designed by Veronica Valenzuela from Spain.
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with calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
without calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 1024×768, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Me, Myself, And I
“The wallpaper is a reflection on Francisco Goya’s The Third of May, 1808, a painting with a powerful anti-war statement.” — Designed by Bhabna Basak from India.
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with calendar: 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
without calendar: 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Stop Child Labor
“Children should have the opportunity to learn, play, and grow in a safe environment and not be forced to work at a young age. As individuals, we can also make a difference by supporting companies that have strict policies against child labor and by raising awareness about this issue in our communities. By working together, we can help to create a world where every child has the opportunity to reach their full potential, free from the burden of labor. So I designed this wallpaper to raise my voice about this issue. Hope you like it!” — Designed by Hrishikesh Shome from India.
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with calendar: 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
without calendar: 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
Oldies But Goodies
From bold to delicate, from minimalist to funny, below you’ll find some May favorites from our archives that are just too good to be forgotten. Which one is yours? (Please note that these wallpapers don’t come with a calendar.)
Hello May
“The longing for warmth, flowers in bloom, and new beginnings is finally over as we welcome the month of May. From celebrating nature on the days of turtles and birds to marking the days of our favorite wine and macarons, the historical celebrations of the International Workers’ Day, Cinco de Mayo, and Victory Day, to the unforgettable ‘May the Fourth be with you’. May is a time of celebration — so make every May day count!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1440×1050, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
The Monolith
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.
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without calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
Blooming May
“In spring, especially in May, we all want bright colors and lightness, which was not there in winter. Our designers decided to convey these feelings in the May calendar.” — Designed by MasterBundles from Ukraine.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Understand Yourself
“Sunsets in May are the best way to understand who you are and where you are heading. Let’s think more!” — Designed by Igor Izhik from Canada.
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without calendar: 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Poppies Paradise
Designed by Nathalie Ouederni from France.
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without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1200, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
Lake Deck
“I wanted to make a big painterly vista with some mountains and a deck and such.” — Designed by Mike Healy from Australia.
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without calendar: 1280×960, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 2560×1440, 2560×1600, 2880×1800
Today, Yesterday, Or Tomorrow
Designed by Alma Hoffmann from the United States.
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without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
April Showers Bring Magnolia Flowers
“April and May are usually when everything starts to bloom, especially the magnolia trees. I live in an area where there are many and when the wind blows, the petals make it look like snow is falling.” — Designed by Sarah Masucci from the United States.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Spring Gracefulness
“We don’t usually count the breaths we take, but observing nature in May, we can’t count our breaths being taken away.” — Designed by Ana Masnikosa from Belgrade, Serbia.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Make A Wish
Designed by Julia Versinina from Chicago, USA.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
All Is Possible In May
“Edwin Way Teale once said that ‘[t]he world’s favorite season is the spring. All things seem possible in May.’ Now that the entire nature is clothed with grass and branches full of blossoms that will grow into fruit, we cannot help going out and enjoying every scent, every sound, every joyful movement of nature’s creatures. Make this May the best so far!” — Designed by PopArt Studio from Serbia.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1440×1050, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Rainy Days
“Winter is nearly here in my part of the world and I think rainy days should be spent at home with a good book!” — Designed by Tazi Design from Australia.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×960, 1600×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Birds Of May
“Inspired by a little-known ‘holiday’ on May 4th known as ‘Bird Day’. It is the first holiday in the United States celebrating birds. Hurray for birds!” — Designed by Clarity Creative Group from Orlando, FL.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 640×960, 640×1136, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Be On Your Bike!
“May is National Bike Month! So, instead of hopping in your car, grab your bike and go. Our whole family loves that we live in our bike-friendly community. So, bike to work, to school, to the store, or to the park — sometimes it is faster. Not only is it good for the environment, but it is great exercise!” — Designed by Karen Frolo from the United States.
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without calendar: 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Add Color To Your Life!
“This month is dedicated to flowers, to join us and brighten our days giving a little more color to our daily life.” — Designed by Verónica Valenzuela from Spain.
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without calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1152×864, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1440×900, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 2560×1440
Always Seek Knowledge
“‘As knowledge increases, wonder deepens.’ (Charles Morgan) So I tried to create an illustration based on this.” — Designed by Bisakha Datta from India.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×900, 1400×1050, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Welcome May With An Ice Cream!
“May is the last month of spring, the weather is getting hotter every day and it starts to feel almost like summer. So, the best thing to cool ourselves and bring summer closer is to… welcome May with an ice cream!” — Designed by WebOlution from Greece.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 640×960, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×1024, 1152×768, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 2560×1600
Game Boy
Designed by Sander Geenen from Belgium.
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without calendar: 1024×768, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
Colorful
Designed by <a href=https://www.lotum.de>Lotum from Germany.
<a href=https://archive.smashing.media/assets/344dbf88-fdf9-42bb-adb4-46f01eedd629/5fbaaed8-cc91-407e-911b-95c851771e57/may-12-colorful-31-preview-opt.png>preview
without calendar: <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-320×480.jpg>320×480, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-640×960.jpg>640×960, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1024×1024.jpg>1024×1024, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1280×800.jpg>1280×800, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1280×1024.jpg>1280×1024, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1440×900.jpg>1440×900, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1680×1050.jpg>1680×1050, <a href=https://smashingmagazine.com/files/wallpapers/may-12/may-12-colorful__31-nocal-1920×1200.jpg>1920×1200
Tentacles
Designed by Julie Lapointe from Canada.
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without calendar: 320×480, 1024×768, 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1920×1200
Sweet Lily Of The Valley
“The ‘lily of the valley’ came earlier this year. In France, we celebrate the month of May with this plant.” — Designed by Philippe Brouard from France.
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without calendar: 800×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1280×720, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Geo
Designed by Amanda Focht from the United States.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Love Japanese Food
Designed by Ricardo Gimenes from Sweden.
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without calendar: 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440, 3840×2160
May The Force Be With You
“Yoda is my favorite Star Wars character and ‘may’ has funny double meaning.” — Designed by Antun Hirsman from Croatia.
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without calendar: 1280×800, 1280×1024, 1440×900, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Enjoy May!
“Springtime, especially Maytime, is my favorite time of the year. And I like popsicles — so it’s obvious isn’t it?” — Designed by Steffen Weiß from Germany.
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without calendar: 320×480, 640×480, 800×480, 800×600, 1024×768, 1024×1024, 1152×864, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1280×1024, 1400×1050, 1440×900, 1600×1200, 1680×1050, 1680×1200, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 1920×1440, 2560×1440
Celestial Longitude Of 45°
“Lixia is the 7th solar term according to the traditional East Asian calendars, which divide a year into 24 solar terms. It signifies the beginning of summer in East Asian cultures. Usually begins around May 5 and ends around May 21.” — Designed by Hong, Zi-Cing from Taiwan.
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without calendar: 1024×768, 1080×1920, 1280×720, 1280×800, 1280×960, 1366×768, 1400×1050, 1680×1050, 1920×1080, 1920×1200, 2560×1440
May is almost here, so what better occasion could there be for some fresh and inspiring desktop and mobile wallpapers? Created with love by artists and designers from across the globe, the wallpapers in this post come in versions with and without a calendar. Enjoy!