August Wallpapers: Community Designs for Desktop and Mobile

Each month, designers from around the world contribute original artwork to our desktop wallpaper collection. The August 2021 batch continues that tradition with a mix of fresh submissions and a few restored classics from the archives. Every wallpaper is offered in two variants — with and without a calendar overlay — so you can keep the image on screen past the end of the month if you prefer.

Contributors retain full creative control over their themes and execution. The results range from playful summer motifs to more reflective, personal pieces. Click any preview image for a larger view, then download the resolution that matches your display.

If you would like to see your own work featured in a future installment, submissions are open. Details on how to take part are available on the wallpapers challenge page.

Cowabunga

Ricardo Gimenes, based in Sweden, opens the collection with a design that leans into surf culture and carefree summer energy. The artwork is available in resolutions from 640x480 up to 4K, both with and without the August calendar.

Cowabunga

Work Hard, Play Hard

The second submission comes from ActiveCollab in the United States. The piece captures the tension of summer productivity — the sense that alarm clocks and deadlines feel out of place when a beach trip lingers in memory. The artwork speaks to the rhythm of putting in focused effort during work hours and then balancing it with rest and recreation. Versions are available with and without the calendar, including portrait-friendly resolutions for mobile home screens.

Work Hard, Play Hard

World Elephant Day

PopArt Studio from Novi Sad, Serbia crafted “Ivory Tower” to mark World Elephant Day on August 12th. The design draws attention to the dual threats facing elephants: African elephants are endangered by wildlife crime, notably poaching for the illegal ivory trade, while Asian elephants deal with habitat loss from human-elephant conflict. The piece serves as a reminder that these animals rely on us to build a non-exploitive, sustainable environment where they can live safely.

Ivory Tower

Citrus Daydreams

Melissa Bogemans, based in Belgium, contributed “Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy”. The wallpaper leans into the lighter side of the month with bright citrus imagery, offering a playful contrast to the more serious themes in this collection. Each download is available with or without the August calendar grid; the calendar-free versions appear in the same resolution set:

Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy

August Motivation

This month, designers lean into positive energy and heartfelt themes. Hitesh Puri, a designer based in Delhi, India, offers a motivational piece built around a simple but powerful idea: enjoyment is the whole purpose of life.

“The whole purpose of life is to enjoy and do what you love. When you are not able to enjoy your life, you are missing your life’s purpose and your chance to make a difference in your world.” — Hitesh Puri
Do What You Love

As with all wallpapers in this collection, the design is available both with and without an August calendar. The calendar-free version is ideal if you prefer a clean aesthetic, while the calendar variant helps you keep track of the month at a glance.

Spread The Love

From Sweden, designer Ricardo Gimenes brings a lighter, more romantic touch to the August lineup. His submission plays with the universal theme of love, rendered in a style that feels both playful and polished.

Love Is In The Air

The design is available in an extended range of resolutions, going from 640x480 all the way up to the ultra-wide 3840x2160 (4K). That makes it a solid pick whether you're setting up a small secondary display or a large 4K monitor.

Honoring Grandparents

August 22nd marks Senior Citizen's Day, a moment to recognize the selfless support grandparents extend to their grandchildren and to working parents. It's also a time to appreciate the wisdom, love, and encouragement they share with their families. Designed by Ever Increasing Circles from the United Kingdom, this wallpaper celebrates the Grandmas, Grandpas, Memas, Nanas, Pops, and Granddads by whatever fond name they're known.

Senior Citizen’s Day

A Call for Environmental Stewardship

LibraFire from Serbia presents a visual commentary on humanity's relationship with the planet, titled "Balance Of Nature." The work reflects on how our collective greed has disturbed the fragile balance of the natural world for too long. It urges viewers to consider what truly holds value: superficial material riches or the health and well-being of our only home.

Balance Of Nature

From the Archives: August Designs That Stood the Test of Time

Every August, the design community turns its attention to the final stretch of summer, and that inspiration has produced a rich back catalog of wallpaper art. Some of the strongest entries from past editions drew on everything from personal memories to seasonal rituals. The following designs are pulled from the archives; unlike the fresh August collection, these do not include a calendar.

Personal Motivations and Everyday Joys

A favorite recurring theme is finding creative fuel in ordinary moments and personal connections. Westie Vibes from Portugal looked to their dog for a reminder about how to approach the season. Live In The Moment celebrates the simple act of enjoying each day with enthusiasm.

Live In The Moment

Emily Haines from the United States used the turning of the seasons to craft a message of optimism. Bee Happy! reminds viewers that even as the warm days wind down, there is still something to look forward to.

Bee Happy!

For PopArt Studio from Serbia, August carries a special designation. Happiness Happens In August nods to Happiness Happens Day on August 8th, using the holiday season as a prompt to enjoy sunbathing, swimming and birdwatching.

Happiness Happens In August

Mira Hoayek from Lebanon took a similar view, urging people not to let the season slip away. Embrace Summer! is anchored in the idea that after waiting so long for warm weather, the best move is to hold on tight.

Embrace Summer!

Night Skies, Nature and Nostalgia

Several archived designs transport viewers out of the office and into the natural world. Igor Izhik from Canada offered The Ocean Is Waiting, a summer reminder to spend time swimming — with a note of caution thrown in.

The Ocean Is Waiting

James Mitchell from the United Kingdom turned his attention upward. Clear summer nights made him notice the stars, and Launch came out of that space-inspired frame of mind.

Launch

Franny Van Eyck from Wisconsin combined astronomy with astrology for Leo. The design covers the Lion's time in the zodiac—”July 23 to August 23”—and incorporates the constellation itself.

Leo

Acodez from India highlighted a different kind of seasonal shift. Rain, Rain Go Away! draws on the nursery rhyme but reframes the monsoon as a colorful, beautiful time of year.

Rain, Rain Go Away!

Childhood is another well that designers keep returning to. Francesco Paratici from Australia contributed a piece called Childhood Memories, capturing the nostalgia of growing up.

Monthly Quality Desktop Wallpaper - August 2012