Capitale(s): 60 Years of Urban Art in Paris
From 2022, the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall) will host a retrospective of urban art in Paris. Discover the history of street art with new works created for this event.
Before graffiti
In Paris, the adventure of urban art began before graffiti with paintings, murals, posters, stencils, collages, and more. In the 1960s, pioneers such as Villeglé, Raymond Hains, Ernest Pignon-Ernest, and Zlotykamien paved the way for future street artists.
L'homme en blanc (2022) by Jérôme MesnagerCity of Paris
The 1980s
The 1980s saw many initiatives flourish, such as those of Jérôme Mesnager who, in 1983, invented the White Man (l'Homme en Blanc)—a symbol of light, strength, and peace. In 1982, Bando imported graffiti from the United States and started a revolution.
At the end of the 1980s, urban art had spread to the metro and certain districts of the capital. From 1985 to 1989, 18 Boulevard de la Chapelle was the epicenter of hip-hop culture and a must-see spot for French graffiti.
A divided movement
At the beginning of the 1990s, graffiti was heavily repressed. Debates raged between the supporters of vandalism and the opponents of such an artistic approach.
The latter claimed to be focusing their energy more on producing studio work that could be displayed in the spotlight and less on spray-painted lettering.
The contemporary shift
In the early 2000s, thanks to its creativity and the spaces where graffiti could flourish, Paris became a global showcase for urban art and an essential destination for new talent.
Artists from all over the world came to demonstrate their skills, their dexterity, and the originality of their approach. But to stand out they had to diversify their techniques.
Street art
By the late 2000s, urban art was popular and street art had become a major artistic movement.
Paris est un véritable océan (2022) by eL SeedCity of Paris
Present day
Today, the movement is characterized by the abundance of skills practiced by the new generation. Among the talented artists to express themselves across Paris, some choose words and writing, others images.
Tarek Benaoum
Tarek works with calligraphy, considering it to be an inherent continuation of his passion for writing.
Sans titre de Kraken (2022) by KrakenCity of Paris
Although sometimes figurative images can evoke calligraphy, as shown here on the tentacles of the famous Kraken octopus.
New and varied techniques include installation and video, deployed both indoors and outdoors.
For this exhibition, some creations are immersive and allow visitors to actually enter the works.
Nowadays, new talents are uncovered every day on the walls of Paris, demonstrating that urban art is flourishing.
Two works by Invader are even hidden in the Hôtel de Ville, will you be able to find them on your next visit?
Curators of the Capitale(s) 2022/2023 exhibition:
Magda Danysz, Nicolas Laugero Lasserre, Elise Herszkowicz, and Marko 93.
