Street art in Paris
Paris is world famous for its museums and historical monuments, but the City of Light is also a popular destination for street art lovers. If you’re an urban art lover, you won’t be disappointed with what Paris has to offer.
The 13th district
The 13th arrondissement is one of the most popular neighborhoods in Paris for street art. You can discover many colorful and impressive frescoes. Among the most famous works of this district, we can mention the fresco of the boulevard Vincent Auriol and that of the rue Jeanne d’Arc. On foot or by metro on line 6 to Nationale, you can discover various frescoes embracing the buildings of the arrondissement, creating a real open-air museum. Shepard Fairey with one of his “Liberty, Equality, Fraternity” frescoes or Invader with his mosaic are among the artists who took part in the decoration of the district.
Oberkampf to Menilmontant
The Oberkampf district in Ménilmontant is also a popular destination for street art lovers, east of Paris. The streets of this neighborhood are filled with graffiti and murals. You can discover works by local and international artists. Thanks to associations, some facades have artistic programming. Also the facade of the Pavillon Carré de Baudouin is regularly repainted by artists.
The Villette district
The Villette district is another must-see district for street art lovers. You can discover many large murals there. Most of the works are located on the walls of the Parc de la Villette and the Canal de l’Ourcq in the 20th. Not far from there is the longest fresco in Paris on rue d’Aubervilliers. It was made in 2015. Over almost 500 meters many street art artists like Kashink paid tribute to the famous Rosa Parks, who had fought in an America torn and divided by racial segregation. It is thus a work welcoming the art of several artists creating a mix of personalities and propagating a living together and a feeling of peace, where different communities rub shoulders.
The center of Paris
The center of Paris is also an ideal place to discover works of street art. You can discover graffiti and murals in the streets and alleys. Thus, you can discover a huge fresco in front of the Center Pompidou, or M.Chat on the iron curtain of the BHV Homme store, in the Marais.
Moreover, since the death of the singer Serge Gainsbourg, the facade of his house is covered with graffiti, collages, paintings, or even drawings.
Indoor street art
In addition to outdoor street art, Paris is also home to many urban art galleries. You can discover works by local and international artists exhibited in indoor spaces. It is ideal for winter days to escape the gloomy atmosphere of rain and cold.
So why not warm up at Art42, the first French urban art museum. This gallery, located in the 17th arrondissement of Paris, is a real paradise for lovers of this art. Elsewhere in Paris, some places dedicate part of their collection to urban art such as Fluctuart in the 7th, a place to live near the Invalides or La Fab. – agnès b. endowment fund further south in the 13th arrondissement, a stone’s throw from the François Mitterrand Library or the Joséphine Baker swimming pool.
In conclusion, Paris is an essential destination for street art lovers. With its many neighborhoods filled with colorful and impressive murals, the city offers a unique experience for lovers of urban art.
