The Best Street Art Spots in Paris
Dive into the Parisian street art and admire a wide range of graffiti and colours that you have never seen before. This visit to the street Art in Paris will help you discover the best neighborhoods to see the most beautiful murals in the capital.
Indeed, Paris is like an open-air art gallery. You only need to scan the urban landscape to see amazing graffiti , stencils and collages of all kinds.
From the Butte-aux-Cailles district to Oberkampf, the works of street Colorful art litters every nook and cranny of the Parisian capital. Our team has compiled a list of the best street art spots to see in Paris.
1) Street Art in Belleville and the 11th arrondissement
Belleville in the 11th arrondissement is probably one of the best places to see street art in Paris. This traditionally working-class and lively neighborhood boasts some of the city's most renowned urban murals and graffiti . With relatively low property prices (compared to other arrondissements) and numerous spaces available for studios and workshops, Belleville seems like the natural home for ambitious urban art projects.
To get there, you simply need to to borrow take line 2 or 11 and get off at Belleville station. Continue walking until you reach the street Denoyez , a place where artistic creation can be freely expressed. There are many bars there, so you can admire splendid graffiti while quenching your thirst.
On the walls, you can see colorful murals , faces of more or less well-known personalities, as well as a number of galleries of local artists. If you happen to be there in May, many galleries open their doors to the public to showcase exclusive creations. To stay up-to-date on the latest exhibitions, we invite you to visit Paris la Douce, theleading website for Parisian art .
While you're in the area, we recommend you take a detour to the square. Frehel in order to admire the giant mural depicting a man. Gradually, it has become a symbol in the neighborhood and part of its urban landscape.
2) The Giant Frescoes of the 13th
One of our favorite neighborhoods, in terms of both quantity and quality, is the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Traditionally considered a "grey neighborhood" in the past, Paris 13 is now constantly transforming. Its unattractive tower blocks and uninspiring streets are now being revitalized by street artists from all over the world.
The transformation of Paris's 13th arrondissement is largely due to its mayor, Jérôme Coumet, and his municipal team. The socialist, who has led the 13th arrondissement since 2007, has a particular interest in street art . With this spirit and enthusiasm, Paris 13 uses street art to enhance its image and attract young people by offering them a cool neighborhood to live in.
3) La Butte aux Cailles, the Parisian street art village
We're still in the 13th arrondissement, but this time we've left behind the large housing projects and their giant murals. This quiet and picturesque neighborhood combines charming cobblestone streets with interesting street art. A street art walk around the Butte aux Cailles is a wonderful way to discover this area while following in the footsteps of talented artists. The Butte aux Cailles is also an excellent place to have a drink or a good dinner, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit outside.
4) Oberkampf, a hotspot for street art in Paris
Another creative district is Oberkampf, a hub for street art. Don't be surprised if you occasionally see tourists on a tour making the rounds of the area's iconic graffiti and collages .
In the narrow cobblestone streets, check out Le Mur, an urban art space dedicated to urban art (107 rue Oberkampf). It's a fixed "canvas" wall that never seems to be the same—artists like Mademoiselle Maurice, Fred le Chevalier (a local favorite whose work you might recognize), Sêma Lao, Hoctez & Fuga, and many others have created pieces here. The space is run by an association founded in 2003 by Jean Faucheur: Le MUR (Modulable-Urbain-Réactif, or Modular-Urban-Reactive).
5) La Villette, the meeting place for graffiti artists
North of Paris, between the Stade de France and the Parc de la Villette, the banks of the Canal Saint-Denis have been adorned with striking, colorful murals. Come and discover these sublime frescoes with friends, displayed in unusual locations such as the A86 motorway or Cemex cement silos – an ideal outing for friends or family. You can book a guided tour or explore the canal from the water; the Plaine Saint-Denis tourist office offers cruises for art enthusiasts.
6) The Ourcq Canal, a stroll through the heart of urban art
For three decades, the Ourcq canal has constituted an urban artistic heritage that has become a benchmark in terms of street art and an unmissable place of pilgrimage for lovers of ephemeral art. Recent operations carried out as part of the summer festival help to expand and enhance the Ourcq canal and its exceptional heritage. Thus, a Cathedral Graff was born in 2012, and many street artists, such as the famous JR They left their mark there.
In 2018, the Été du Canal de l'Ourcq summer festival partnered with the famous Studios Harcourt Paris to create a street art trail called p' (H) arcourt .
Varying in size and scale, these works of art are scattered along the riverbanks and surprise the casual passerby at a street corner or at a bridge intersection...
Following the history of art and the evolution of the territory's transformations, the street art project is intrinsically linked to its environment; the works extend over 10 km along the riverbanks, around the Rotonde in Stalingrad. 19th district of Paris in Aulnay-sous-Bois.
7) Beaubourg, a playground for street artists
In the heart of Paris, the street Art is omnipresent, some locals appreciate it, others do not, however, it is definitely part of the scenery. In the vicinity of Beaubourg, particularly on Rue Quincampoix you can observe magnificent urban artworks.
But it's by giving yourself space Igor Stravinsky that you will see the most characteristic mural in the neighborhood. The latter depicts a man whose face signals to us to respect silence. This artwork exceptional signature Jef Aérosol was created using the stencil technique, which allows for the layering of several supports in order to obtain a clean graffiti.
8) Vitry-sur-Seine Street, Art in the Suburbs
Vitry-sur-Seine, a medium-sized town in the Paris suburbs, boasts countless works of street art. A visit will allow you to see murals by artists from all over the world! It's a town where art is for everyone, both to enjoy and to participate in.
The artist C215 initiated the project. He settled in Vitry in 2008 and has gradually transformed it into a vibrant hub for street art. Numerous collaborative projects have emerged, such as Vitry'n'Urbaine, driving the city's constant evolution. Don't miss the chance to visit the city's train station to admire the incredible French robot mural by Pixel Pancho.
9) Indoor Street Art at Art 42
The museum's founder is not other than Xavier Niel the famous French entrepreneur, also founder of one of the best coding schools in Paris, school 42. The choice of name indicates that Art42 , like the street art it reveres, aims to be democratic: The space is completely free to enter. That said, you will still need to book the time and date of your visit, as the museum is only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Inside Art42, you'll see works by renowned street artists such as Banksy, Miss Van, Speedy Graphito, and Shepard Fairey . Nicolas Laugero Lasserre, who has been studying and collecting graffiti for 15 years, is the curator of the exhibited works. Of the 150 pieces in total, some come from elsewhere, while others are site-specific works created exclusively for the museum.
10) Aerosol Paris, temple of graffiti
A true hub of urban culture, L'Aérosol is a must-see for contemporary art lovers . This unique venue is located at 54 rue de l'Évangile in the 18th arrondissement. There, you can discover giant murals painted on several walls, boasting breathtaking colors, as well as numerous abstract portraits. You'll also find a bar with a dance floor where you can let loose on the dance floor. 😉
See you soon.
The Lofty Trend Team.
