Born in the 1960s in the United States, street art has not always been considered art in the strict sense of the term. Long considered vandalism, street art has taken many forms: graffiti, tag, collage, stencils, frescoes, stickers… It wasn’t until the 1980s that this art form arrived in France. Today, street art is an integral part of the urban landscape, so much so that it can be found en masse in certain districts of Paris. Here are our favorite spots to see free street art in Paris!
Rue Dénoyez, Belleville (20ᵉ arrondissement)
This very pretty street is famous for its colorful frescoes and graffiti which cover almost the entire surface of some buildings. The art here is renewed quite frequently, so you’ll always marvel at the new, constantly evolving works, always offering new works to discover.
Canal Saint-Denis (19th arrondissement)
What could be more bucolic than a stroll along the Canal Saint-Denis? Here you’ll find numerous murals and works of art created by local artists and collectives.
Boulevard Vincent Auriol (13th arrondissement)
This boulevard is a veritable open-air museum, with monumental frescoes by internationally renowned artists such as Shepard Fairey, Invader, C215 and Seth.
Butte-aux-Cailles (13th arrondissement)
How can we talk about street art without mentioning this picturesque district of the 13ᵉ arrondissement? Butte-aux-Cailles is dotted with magnificent frescoes and graffiti, coloring and dressing up the neighborhood. Have fun wandering around and discovering them!
Quai de l’Ourcq (19th arrondissement)
Along the Canal de l’Ourcq you’ll find street art nuggets you won’t want to miss! You’ll see works by Da Cruz, Lask and Shaka, using a variety of street-art techniques. Rue de l’Ourcq is also famous for its monumental, brightly-colored frescoes!
Montmartre (18th arrondissement)
Historic artists’ quarter par excellence, Montmartre is home to many works of street art hidden in its alleyways. You’ll see the facetious faces of Gregos, the aliens of Invaders and the hyper-realistic works of Swed! Take the opportunity to see the “I love you wall an ode to perfect love to round off your tour in style!
Center Pompidou and surroundings (4th arrondissement)
Around the Center Pompidou here you’ll find iconic Parisian works such as Jeff Aérosol’s famous “Chuuuttt!!!”, frescoes by Shepard Fairey, charming collages and stunning sculptures.