Established in August 10 1793, located at Rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris, France. 652,000 sq ft. The Louvre. The art museum of art museums. Approximately 8.1 million people visited the Louvre in 2017, making it one of the most popular places to see art in Paris.
But this article is not about the Louvre. If you don’t relish the idea of keeping to the beaten path, then keep reading. Bring your walking shoes, because this is a guide of the best ways to experience street art in Paris.
Use Underground Paris
There are so many different avenues in which to view art, figuratively and literally; it depends on your style. How much planning do you want to do? If you are the type who really wants to plan out your route, check out Underground Paris.
This site is for the true lover of street art, with dedicated writers covering the latest creations of Parisian artists as well as in-depth interviews. This is where you’ll find your new favorite artist, as well as specifically where to find their murals across the city.
Take A Free Original Paris Alternative Tour
If you don’t have time for anything else in the city, you should make time for the Free Original Paris Alternative Tour. Run by locals and expats, it starts everyday at 11 am and runs 2.5-3 hours long. Besides pointing out street art and alternative living along the way, the tour stops to focus on the iconic street art of Belleville.
There is really a sense of pride from those that run the tour, and it’s a great way to get insight into both the history and present day of Paris’ bohemian underground. The price (free) and the fact that the tour points out interesting cafes and markets as well as art makes this a great value for your time. Just, call ahead to make an appointment.
Check Out Street Art Paris Tour
If you want a tour that focuses more on the history and context of the street art scene, then check out the Street Art Paris Tour. Though “tour” might be a misnomer, as it’s actually a group of artists, historians, and documentarians that run several different tours, each focusing on a different area. Tours are on Saturdays and Sundays, and run about 2.5-3 hours. Each tour tries to give a sensitive and holistic overview of the street art scene, with equal attention being given to the importance of tagging as well as sanctioned murals.
If you are really interested in learning more about the street art scene and have an interest in one of the areas (Belleville, The 13th Arrondissement, Montmartre, or Vitry-Sur-Seine), then this is a great way to spend a few hours. Prices are around 15-22 euros, depending on the tour, and require at least 2-3 people.
Go To A Le M.U.R. Performance
Le Mur is “the wall” en francais but MUR also stands for “Association Modulable, Urbain, Réactif”: Modulable: variable, changing. Urbain: Urban. Réactif: adjective describing something or someone who reacts.
Located at 107 de la Rue Oberkampf, a noted artistic hotspot, in the 11th arrondissement, Le Mur is an association-owned and coordinated wall that hosts a different mural by a different artist every few weeks. Created in 2003, the wall is currently on it’s 266th iteration. The murals are always really cool, but check the website to see if your trip lines up with a performance. It’s a really amazing opportunity to see live created street art of this caliber and unsurprisingly, always draws a decent crowd.
As of this writing, the next performances is on the 1st of December where NHOBI will be replacing the mural by ZËSAR, completed November 17th. (Pro tip: search Underground Paris for more info on the artist before attending, it’s really a great resource for learning more about a street artist.)
Seeing Street Art in Paris
Go on a guided tour or make your own way? Paris is filled with art, and you are sure to see some great stuff just walking around in the artist districts of Belleville or the 13th Arrondissement. But there are so many great options for guided tours that it really is a shame to miss out. Either way, just get out there and explore!
There is something special about street art; it cannot exist separate from the peoples who made it. People live, work, and sleep in the buildings that make up the canvas. It’s no wonder that many street art is political in nature. Museums are held separate, the artwork preserved. Go to a museum in Paris if you want to know the history of the world. Go to her streets if you want to know Paris.