Urban Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement: From XXL Murals to unsanctioned street art.

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Paris’ 13th Arrondissement, often overlooked by the typical Paris travel itinerary, is a treasure trove for street art enthusiasts, offering a unique journey through the world of XXL murals and the rich tapestry of street art.

A Street Art Travel Guide to Paris’ 13th Arrondissement

Armed with my freshly updated Paris 13th Arrondissement map, you will discover not just the art itself but the stories behind these magnificent murals. The district, known for its towering residential blocks, has transformed into the most impressive collection of large-scale murals in Paris, and arguably, in Europe, showcasing the talents of local and international street artists.

Each mural here tells a story, a frozen narrative captured on the walls of the city, offering a glimpse into the cultural and artistic heartbeat of Paris. In this Paris street art travel guide, we are going to unveil these stories together, following the alphabetical order, to understand the significance and inspiration behind each piece.

We will also explore the human-scale street art in a unique part of Paris’ 13th Arrondissement, Butte-aux-Cailles. This area is renowned for its charming, village-like ambiance, a striking contrast to the bustling urbanity of other parts of Paris.

Butte-aux-Cailles is distinguished by its narrow streets, quaint houses, and the notable absence of the large Haussmann-style buildings that dominate much of the city. This neighborhood, with its distinct character, stands apart from the towering blocks that typically characterize the rest of the 13th Arrondissement.

• Read also: “Street Art in Paris: A Comprehensive Guide to All 20 Arrondissements and Beyond!“

Lastly, we’ll venture to Spot13, a dynamic area where graffiti and street art emerge spontaneously. Our journey will include a visit to a gallery and bookshop dedicated to street art and graffiti. We’ll also explore a former cold storage facility, occupied in the 1980s by artists who transformed it into a vibrant collection of studios and workspaces, leaving the exteriors free to be covered with a constantly evolving display of street art and graffiti.

So, get the link of my Paris street art map below and let’s get started!

Paris Street Art Map

XXL Murals in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Addfuel

Addfuel is a Portuguese street artist whose stencils are inspired by the traditional tiles of his country, which he revamps through his typical pop art imagery that juxtaposes comics and skateboarding culture. “Envolvente” was painted at the beginning of 2019, right before his solo show “Deuxième Désintégration” at Itinerrance Gallery.

Update 2024: there’s another extra-large Addfuel mural, just opposite this one.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Bom K

A pioneer of French graffiti, Bom K founded the well-know crew DMV (Da Mental Vaporz) in 1999. His style is very personal and his subjects are brute and grimy, although he gets poetic in the massive piece outside the metro stop ‘Nationale’. In “Mon robot te botte le derriere” we see a mischievous child with a spray-can. As the little girl ventures into the starry night, she carries a pet mouse on her shoulder. I heard that the original background featured throw-ups and tags, but I couldn’t find any pictures of it.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Bordalo II

Creating sculptures of endangered animals out of rubbish and other things that kill them, the Portuguese artist Bordalo II realized two pieces in Paris for his solo show –“Accord de Paris”- at Mathgoth Gallery at the beginning of 2019.

Update 2024: This owl does longer exists, but there’s a new piece by Bordalo II in the ‘hood (a squirrel)

• Read also: My week with Bordalo II in Rome!

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Borondo

Sometimes I miss Gonzalo Borondo’s classic pieces; the unrestrained brush strokes, the minimal yet expressive colour palette, and good ol’ acrylic on wall. His production evolved through many different shapes, from his original glass scratching to the immersive experiences he is producing in the present, although the power of his message has never changed. In “Les Trois Ages” (2014) each man is preserving the following generation from the turpitude of the world, either by plugging their ears or by covering their eyes.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Christian Guemy a.k.a. C215

Local stencil legend C215 gifted the area with a massive piece – “Le Chat” – in addition to many smaller pieces he painted independently over the past years, including a classic ‘Madonna and child’.

Update 2024: In a different part of Paris’ 13th Arrondissement (on Avenue de Choisy, an area known as Paris’ Chinatown), I spotted this mural by C215, inspired by a child encountered in a favela in Sao Paulo, Brazil -as a homage to the area’s multiculturalism.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Conor Harrington

The Irish artist Conor Harrington brings a Baroque ambience onto walls. His epic images come from photo-shoots he did in his studio, where he stages men in period costume recreating postures that ooze masculinity and drawing upon historical references to tackle socio-political themes.

Painted in March 2017, from far away “Etreinte et Lutte” looks like a hug, except it isn’t. It’s the representation of a political struggle, albeit purposely ambiguous to show that –especially when it comes to politics – every story has two different sides. The artist was inspired by the (then) upcoming political elections in France.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Cryptik

In October 2018, the master of calligraffiti Cryptik wrote a poem by William Saroyan (“The Time Of Your Life”) right above this bookshop in Paris!

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > D*Face

The British street artist brought his signature, Lichtenstein-inspired imagery to Paris for the first time in 2017, when he painted “Love won’t tear us apart” in Place Pinel. In the ‘city of love’, D*Face drew a heart-breaking kiss between a girl and the memory of someone she had loved – one of those people we might lose, but will always live in our memories.

Back in the area in 2018, D*Face added a third figure to the romantic story: a girl who is looking at the couple from a building at the other side of the square. Is she jealous? Or is she happy to be freed from any romantic relationship? The artist leaves the question open, although we can’t help noticing that – unlike the original painting on which the image is based – the girl in the mural “Turn Coat” isn’t crying.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > DALeast

Chinese-born DALeast’s subjects look as if they were made of thousands metal shards coming together. His fractured images are painted on a pop coloured, contrasting background, from which a breath of energy arises. Often depicting animals, his images appear to leap off the wall, while his characteristic splintered lines capture the movement and feeling of the subject. The final outcome is mesmerizing, as we can see in this mural he painted in May 2019 on Boulevard Vincent-Auriol.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > David de la Mano

The minimalist style of Spanish artist David de la Mano recalls rock art. Wandering and disoriented, with the head of a dog or a bird, with or without a hat, his poetic silhouettes never look the same, although they do all walk towards the same direction – a same goal perhaps. The ones he painted in Paris in 2015 compose a big face.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Ethos

Update 2024: This piece doesn’t exist anymore!

In a city like his hometown of São Paulo that is fully covered with pixação (unique Brazilian graffiti calligraphy), Claudio Ethos’ figurative style has always been pretty unique. Additionally, unlike the colourful murals of his fellow Brazilian artists, Ethos’ are always black and white. He paints surrealist scenes featuring highly detailed characters that often look tormented. The piece he painted in November 2010 is the oldest in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Etnik

Produced by GCA Gallery, this striking mural in Paris wraps up Etnik’s “5 Solid Metaphor” project, which began in Florida, USA, in 2018 and expanded across Europe and the USA, culminating in a final exhibition in Paris. The project draws its inspiration from Plato’s concept of the five elements composing the Cosmos: Fire, Water, Air, Earth, and a fifth element representing the Universe. In Plato’s vision, each natural element is associated with a geometric solid – Air with an Octahedron, Water with an Icosahedron, Earth with a Cube, Fire with a Tetrahedron, and the fifth, universal element with a Dodecahedron. 

With this urban art project, Italian street artist Etnik has skillfully represented the contradictions of modern cities – overbuilding, shrinking green spaces, imbalance, and decay – through these five Platonic solids. Each mural in the “5 Solid Metaphor” series reflects these themes, with the final piece in Paris encapsulating the ultimate Platonic element: the universe. This mural not only showcases Etnik’s unique artistic vision (painting the dualism between the city and nature from a graffiti point of view) but also serves as a profound commentary on contemporary urban life.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Faile

The work of this New York based duo is inspired by comics and pop culture. Painted in June 2016, “Et j’ai retenu mon souffle” is their first mural in France. It shows a young dancer holding her breath, in Faile’s typical vintage style.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Hera

Now painting solo, Jasmin Siddiqui (known as Hera, formerly one half of the artistic duo Herakut) created this beautiful mural in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement back in 2016. The ubiquitous message she often inscribes in her distinctively rough calligraphy reads: ‘Message for children: Even if the times make it difficult to see, magic exists! (we saw it).

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > How & Nosm

Raoul and Davide Perré are two Spanish twins living in New York, known in the graffiti realm as How and Nosm. After years of train writing, they developed a peculiar style on walls as well, a style rich in recurring images, icons, and symbols.

In “Sun Daze” (2019) they broadened their usual colour palette – white, red, black – to transmit warm and positive energy; an invitation to relax and enjoy life punctuated by the title, which can be read as ‘Sunday’.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Hush

Hush, celebrated for his fusion of Eastern and Western artistic traditions, presents a unique approach to street art. His work is characterized by the layering of motifs and colors, drawing inspiration from his cross-cultural experiences. In this specific mural, Hush’s deep influence from the representation of women in Asia is evident. He portrays a tall, slender subject with intricate detailing, reminiscent of Klimt’s style, while exploring modern contrasts in material and color.

This piece, a part of Hush’s exploration, combines traditional Eastern art with Western elements of action painting and graffiti. Influenced by Asian graphic novels and icons like Mimmo Rotella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Sir Peter Blake, Hush creates a complex interplay of textures and hues, blending anime, pop-graphics, and graffiti. This results in a vibrant, pop art-style mural that is both subtle and colorful, reflecting a deeper, culturally rich examination of color, shape, and form. Hush’s work, particularly this mural, is acclaimed for its visual richness and its seamless blend of diverse artistic influences, offering a captivating representation of cultural fusion.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > AEC Interesni Kazki (a.k.a. Waone)

In a mural that resonates deeply with the current plight of his homeland, the Ukrainian street artist Waone (Interesni Kazki) has created a powerful piece near a local school to reflect on the war in Ukraine. The artwork poignantly depicts a boy playing with a globe, symbolizing the Earth, which is shown with an ear, emphasizing that our planet is alive and listens to our actions. The boy, dressed in a traditional Ukrainian embroidered shirt, is seen conjuring a genie from the globe, expressing a wish in bright, hopeful letters. His wish is for ‘перемога’, the Ukrainian word for victory, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.

The globe, however, is portrayed as a vase teetering on the brink of destruction, filled with the flames of war. Cracks are beginning to show, suggesting the imminent threat of war’s devastation. Smoke rising from the war-torn vase forms Ukrainian letters in disarray, symbolizing the chaos of war. Yet, there is a hope of reordering these letters to spell ‘П Е Р Е М О Г А’, representing the ultimate victory over Russian aggression. This piece not only captures the artist’s personal connection to the ongoing conflict but also serves as a poignant reminder of the global impact of war and the universal yearning for peace.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Inti

The Chilean artist Inti painted three beautiful murals in Paris, but unfortunately “Our Utopia is Their Future” isn’t there anymore.

However, the one he painted in November 2012, “Sudaka”, is still rocking! It depicts one of Inti’s iconic characters – the ‘kusillo’ – a carnival clown dressed in a patchwork of colourful fabrics directly from the Bolivian culture.

In June 2016, Inti painted “La Madre Secular 2” in Paris – which is part of a trilogy started in Marseille and finished in Lisbon. It’s a laic representation of the Madonna: rather than religion, she symbolizes knowledge and scepticism (hence Newton’s apple, instead of the Biblical apple).

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Invader

Among the many Space Invader mosaics that you can spot around Paris’ 13th Arrondissement, this large piece by the iconic French artist definitely stands out:

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Jana & JS

Jana & JS, an Austrian-French artist duo, have been collaborating since 2006. In their stencil works, they frequently portray themselves holding cameras and taking photographs. They have placed numerous stencils across various neighborhoods in Paris, all centered around a consistent theme: a photographer, either male or female, observing the city through their lens – a depiction of the urban gaze.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada

In October 2015 the Cuban-American artist Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada painted one of his “charcoal” murals in Paris. Usually, these murals are part of his ‘identity’ series, in which he portrays people from the neighbourhood who are somehow related to the building he is working on. This time, however, local residents were asked to select an image from a few proposals. The chosen image was of the artist’s wife, and muse, Ana.

Update 2024: There’s a new wall by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada in the ‘hood, a portrait of Philippe Pinel (in the square named after the French psychiatrist).

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Julien Malland a.k.a. Seth

Born in Paris in 1972, Seth brought his playful characters all around the world. Here in the 13th Arrondissement, he painted the majestic mural “Enter the Vortex,” spanning multiple buildings. It depicts one of his iconic children escaping the chaotic environment around him through his colourful imagination. Moreover, when seen from a lateral point of view, the big vortex swallows up the character.

However, the piece by Seth that I liked the most is hidden inside a primary school. Titled “La Clef” (French word for ‘key’), it’s about the ‘key of knowledge’.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > M-City

The work of this Polish artist recalls pixel art, thus managing to be – at once – both poetic and mathematical. Built through the addition of numerous stencil layers, M-City’s infinite landscapes unfold on walls all around the world. This mural was painted in October 2010, when he had a show at Itinerrance gallery.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Maye

Update 2024: This mural doesn’t exist anymore!

In “Etang de Thau” we find Maye’s typical attention to details and his willowy characters made of both natural and mechanical elements. This graffiti writer from southern France painted a homage to his region (the Camargue), whose symbol is the pink flamingo. On it, there is a Camargue rider dressed in the traditional costume and typical shoes of the area.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Okuda

Invited by By Night gallery, Spanish artist Okuda painted an iconic figure of Paris – “La Joconde” – in his pop surrealist style made of geometric patterns and psychedelic colours. The subject was chosen by the residents of the area.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Pantonio

Pantonio’s dancing compositions first appeared in Paris in June 2014, when the Portuguese artist painted “North”. It took him one month to complete what, back then, was the largest mural in Europe. He played with the impressive height of the building (66 meters) by making his iconic fish “swim” upwards. The fish are a metaphor for the population density of the neighbourhood, but also a very important symbol for the most represented culture in Paris’ Chinatown.

Back in Paris in May 2018, Pantonio played with the atypical architecture of a building on Boulevard Vincent-Auriel. Full of grace and delicacy, the birds in “Fragile Agile” represent agility and freedom of movement. Unlike the previous mural, this one is built horizontally, as to follow the movement of the passers-by, the cars and the trains.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Pejac

Spanish artist Pejac, renowned for his thought-provoking street art, left his mark in Paris with a series of works that blend whimsy with artistic depth. One of these works, located on Rue Manet, initially appears to be a simple depiction of a figure throwing a water balloon against a wall. However, upon closer inspection, this seemingly playful act reveals a deeper artistic tribute. The balloon’s splatter uncovers an intricate rendition of Édouard Manet’s famous painting, “The Luncheon on the Grass.”

While the reproduction of Manet’s work is slightly faded, its integration into the urban environment is strikingly beautiful. Pejac’s choice to replicate such a classic piece in an unexpected medium and setting is a testament to his creative vision. It challenges passersby to reconsider their perceptions of art and its place in the world. Known for bringing art to public spaces and engaging those who might not frequent galleries or museums, Pejac excels in adding layers of meaning to his works. This particular piece is not just a clever visual trick; it’s a statement about finding beauty in the most ordinary places and moments.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Reka One

Through bold colours, dynamic movement, and strong lines, the Australian artist Reka One reinterprets his own subconscious. His strange, almost surreal figures are made of abstract, flat coloured shapes, like the one he painted in July 2015 on a council housing building in Paris’ 13th district.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Ricardo Gonzalez

A bright typographic work by American street artist Ricardo Gonzalez, painted in 2022 on the occasion of his solo show at the Galerie Itinérrance, the promoter of most XXL murals in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Shepard Fairey a.k.a. Obey

Obey painted his first wall in the area back in 2012. “Rise above rebel” is an empowering mural for those who are oppressed, yet continue to persevere and rise above.

Back in Paris in June 2016, he realized “Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité” – a touching piece inspired by the terrorist attacks of November 2015.

Finally, he painted “Delicate Balance” after the international climate summit COP21. The piece is part of his series on ecological emergencies; this is the image from which his Eiffel Tower “Earth Crisis” installation evolved. That installation was ephemeral, so it’s important to have this mural to permanently remind us about the damages we are doing to the planet.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > SpY

Update 2024: This mural doesn’t exist anymore!

Invited for the White Night in 2014, Madrid-based interventionist SpY painted a phosphorescent mural saying “I am not a real artist”. The special paint he used is replenished throughout the day by the light of the sun and shines brightly on its own once night falls.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Stew

A graffiti artist originally from Vitry-sur-Seine (a Paris’ suburb boasting superb street art), Stew is well known for having painted the external facade of the legendary “Tour Paris 13”. His complex and detailed graphics are inspired by Japanese culture and prints, as we can see in “Heron Bleuté” (2014), located at the heart of Paris’ Asian district.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Tristan Eaton

American street artist Tristan Eaton brought his pop art imagery to France for the first time in 2014. Drawing from sci-fi, cinema, advertising, and comics, his multiple collages are characterized by a variety of textures. “The revolution will be trivialized” was painted during Paris’ White Night in 2014. It is based on Jacques-Louis David’s iconic “Napoleon crossing the Alps”, and was built by juxtaposing seemingly unrelated images, such as the face of an actress, Tom and Jerry, a horse, and a pin-up.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Vhils

Portuguese artist Vhils was invited to Paris by the Magda Danysz gallery in June 2012. He realized one of his typical portraits, where he ‘takes’ from the wall rather than ‘adding’ to it. His carving technique, which results in stunning portraits between lights and shadows, made him famous worldwide.

Street Art in Paris 13th Arrondissement > Yseult Digan a.k.a. YZ

Best known as a socially engaged poster artist, for Paris’ White Night in 2014 Yseult Digan painted a floral composition. Simple and monochromatic, “Ornament” still shows the artist’s characteristic poetic fragility.

Bonus Track: Vapski Graffiti on Paris’ vans

While street art hunting around Paris’ 13th Arrondissement, I couldn’t help but notice several vans that were painted over by local graffiti artist Vapski, who represents the crew MDC. Originally from Bulgaria, Vapski has been painting colourful pieces on Paris’ van-trucks since 2000.

• Read also: Belleville and the 20th Arrondissement: A Tour of Paris’ Best Street Art Neighborhood.

Butte-aux-Cailles: Human-Scale Street Art in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement

So far, we have delved into the impressive public art collection of the “Street Art 13” project, a collaboration between the mayor’s office and leading urban contemporary art galleries, in particular the Galerie Itinerrance. However, prior to this structured urban art initiative aimed at designing a distinct identity for the neighborhood, the 13th Arrondissement of Paris had already witnessed another significant street art event: “Les Lézarts de la Bièvre” (started in 2001).

Named after the now-covered Parisian river, which once flowed along the western edge of the 13th arrondissement, this event introduced authentic, human-scale street art to Butte-aux-Cailles, a quaint enclave reminiscent of the French countryside within the bustling city.

Butte-aux-Cailles is renowned for its local, small-town charm amidst the larger metropolis of Paris, making it an ideal spot for those seeking a more tranquil, yet historically rich side of the city. This picturesque neighborhood boasts not only art-deco architecture and winding cobblestone streets but also vibrant street art.

Originating both from “Les Lézarts de la Bièvre” and more recent unsanctioned works, street art in Butte-aux-Cailles includes many contributions from French street artist Seth.

In Butte-aux-Cailles, street art predominantly features the work of French artists who favor techniques like stencils or poster art, avoiding the larger-scale murals seen elsewhere. Here, the art seamlessly integrates into the environment, harmonizing with the daily life and character of the area.

This neighborhood also hosts a variety of social spaces, including cozy cafés, lively bars, quaint squares, and traditional bistros. Among the artists who have left their mark in Butte-aux-Cailles are leading figures in French urban art such as MissTic, Speedy Graphito, Jef Aérosol, Philippe Baudelocque, and the particularly prominent Seth.

Urban Hotspots in Paris’ 13th Arrondissement

Graffiti and Street Art in Paris: SPOT13

SPOT13 has emerged as a beloved urban hotspot, largely due to the efforts of Joko. Initially working as an assistant at the nearby Lavo/matik gallery, Joko utilized his free time to paint in this space. His passion soon evolved into organizing jam sessions with graffiti collectives, laying the foundation for a significant initiative.

Developing organically on the pillars of the Boulevard Periferique, SPOT13 boasts a vast mix of graffiti and street art for all tastes. Here, it’s easy to come across artists at work, and to admire more experimental works by well-established artists.

Les Frigos

Originally constructed as a general cold storage facility in the 1920s, this colossal edifice has since metamorphosed into a bustling sanctuary for artists and creatives. After the decline of its use for cold storage, artists occupied the space in the 1980s, transforming it into a labyrinth of studios and workshops.

This transformation has made Les Frigos a significant part of Paris’ contemporary art scene. The building now houses a diverse community of artists, musicians, sculptors, photographers, and other creative professionals. It’s known for its vibrant and eclectic atmosphere, with a variety of workshops, studios, and galleries spread across its multiple floors.

Les Frigos is also famous for its exterior, which is covered in an ever-changing array of street art and graffiti, making it a popular destination for those interested in urban art and culture.

This building, steeped in history and bubbling with artistic life, stands as a testament to the innovative reuse of urban spaces, with its exclusive artist studios opening their doors to the public just a few selected weekends annually.

And so… how did I manage to snap so many shots of the pervasive street art adorning its corridors? Lean in, and I might just spill my secret.

At its ground floor, Les Frigos boasts a canteen, L’Aiguillage, a weekday lunchtime haven for the resident artists that doubles as an art gallery. This eatery welcomes external bookings too. 

Take a seat amid art pieces and, after savoring your meal, you might ‘accidentally’ take a wrong turn on your way to the restroom, finding yourself instead in the building’s vividly painted hallways. Oops!

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Lavo/matik Bookshop & Gallery

Lavo/matik is an art space located in the 13th arrondissement of Paris, known for its focus on urban art and culture. It’s a bookshop and an art shop that specializes in street art, showcasing a variety of works from both emerging and established artists. On its shelves, I even found “Concrete Playground,” the book I co-wrote with Tristan Manco back in 2022. :-)

Galleries like Le Lavomatik play a crucial role in promoting street artists and bringing their work to a broader audience, bridging the gap between the informal nature of street art and the more formal world of art galleries. The shop is much appreciated by street art lovers for its authentic representation of contemporary street art and its contribution to the cultural fabric of Paris.

As we witness the harmonious blend of large-scale masterpieces and intimate human-scale works, it’s clear that Paris’ 13th Arrondissement is an essential destination for anyone looking to experience the soul of Parisian street art.

• Read also: “Paris’ 12th Arrondissement: Exploring Urban Art and the City’s Lesser-Known Gems“

Extra Tip!

A few RER stops aways from Paris’ 13th Arrondissiment, there’s Vitry-sur-Seine. Embracing both murals and spontaneous artworks, this charming small town just outside Paris has become a cornerstone of Europe’s street art scene, Vitry-sur-Seine is widely regarded as Paris’ street art hub.

• Discover all the street art in Vitry-sur-Seine.

Paris Street Art Map