The French urban art movement started around the 1980s, since then Paris had home several exciting works from home-grown to international artists. This art movement have thrived not only on museums and galleries but over the streets.
Paris is an open-air museum. From monumental murals to stencil graffitis, it is no wonder that Paris is one of the world’s best cities to discover street art. In this article we will share with you some of the city’s most notable works of street art over the past few years.
- “Earth Crisis” by Shepard Fairey
“Earth Crisis” by Shepard Fairey, 2016
The Earth Crisis mural is a mandala designed to provide a unified ornamental structure that evokes floral motifs and harmony with nature. Housed within the mandala’s shields are images that symbolize both threats to nature and incitement to respect it. The mandala images, composed of climate change and environmentally themed graphics, are positioned to raise awareness and provoke discussions about the Earth’s future. The mural was located at 13th district, Paris.
“Earth Crisis” by Shepard Fairey, 2016
2. “Pensées du bouffon rouge” by PBoy
French muralist Pascal Boyart, aka PBoy, completed a new mural titled “Pensées du bouffon rouge” (Contemplation of the Red Jester) in Rue de Montmorency, Paris 3ème. The amazing 6mt wide acrylic painting depicts the famous “Stańczyk” Red Jester by Jan Matejko (1838-1893) plus some modern additions to reflect about the current problems that riddle the global economy.
“Pensées du bouffon rouge” by PBoy, 2020
3. Series of murals by Banksy
Mural by Banksy, 2018
British artist created a series of striking stenciled pieces which are tackling the issues of racism, antisemitism, immigration and more.
Mural by Banksy, 2018
4. Dark Magic by SHOK-1
The British artist subverted the classic trope of the shadow puppet animal by spraypainting an X-ray of a rabbit in place of the shadow. He created dramatic contrast in the piece by rendering the hands in the perhaps unexpected medium of brush and ink.
Dark Magic by SHOK-1, 2016
5.“Data Somersault” by Felipe Pantone
This impressive installation featured his signature ultra vibrant colors and high contrast motifs, stretching boldly beyond the boundaries of this concrete church.
Completed in just five days, we love the contrast between Pantone’s work and the raw concrete. The project was curated by Hugo Vitrani and is located inside of a tunnel in Palais de Tokyo in Paris, France.
“Data Somersault” by Felipe Pantone, 2016
6. “PA_1234 – PA_1243” by Invader
A series of 10 ‘invasions’ appeared in Paris last 2016. Ranging from tiny to extremely huge, the French artist once again took over the city with his unique pixelated creatures. Some of the pieces are classic while some others are showing unique characters such as a tribute to Bloodi, a comic character created by Parisian cartoonist Pierre Ouin or an orange character from the NES video game Clash at Demonhead
“PA_1234 – PA_1243” by Invader, 2016
7. Mural by Arnaud Liard
Arnaud Liard’s works evoke his interest in architecture, the city and his subjects that he photographes since his adolescence. Images that serve as a frame for a thousand and one stories when, in his studio in Paris, the artist turns into a director, mixing and remixing his stolen subjects in reconstructed urban landscapes. The piece was organized by Elise Herszkowicz and the good people from Art Azoi. The piece was located at “Les Plateaux Sauvages”, 5 Rue des Plâtrières in the 20th district.
Mural by Arnaud Liard, 2019
8. “Web 2.0” by Ludo
Ludovic Vernhet, known by the name Ludo and sometimes even referred to as Nature’s Revenge, is an artist born and raised in Paris.
His is all about connection between nature, animals and new technologies. It’s all about the world surrounding us. Mixing robotic and natural elements, Ludo questions us about our reality. Without condemning he is putting in highlight topics such as global warming, capitalism, globalization, ecology and the place of the human being among nature. Over the past few years, a lot of his monochromatic wheat paste-ups have graced the streets of Paris.
Web 2.0” by Ludo, 2021
9. “Dengju” by Fin DAC
After his 10 long days in Pantin, Paris as part of ‘Ete Du Canal’. Fin DAC have worked on the mural ‘Dengju’: not just a mural but a kind of reinterpretation of a building.
The artist took his lead from architectural reference points like the pitched roof and a window, our Irish friend has immersed his model/muse Marlena Moon into her surroundings with a beautifully striking piece of work. The piece was located at Pont Delizy in Pantin, Paris
“Dengju” by Fin DAC, 2018
10. “Aster et symphorine” by Pastel
Entitled “Aster et symphorine” the superb mural was located in the 14ème arrondissement, on the facade of a building surrounded by “La petite ceinture”, an old dismissed bounding rail built in 1852 for load trains around the area.
The mural took inspiration from the closed rails due to population growth and the dynamic complexity in urban terms of keeping such a solid border. Once abandoned, nature started to take prominence renewing the landscape´s identity.
“Aster et symphorine” by Pastel, 2017
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