Street Art Stories in Paris

The Paris Vignettes series features the inspired work of street photographer William “Bill” O’Such in themed installments

Wandering through the streets of Paris, you can’t help but notice the street art, each piece telling its own micro story. Some quartiers have street art as a core part of their identity. The 13th arrondissement near Butte aux Cailles is a prime example, where you can find a girl releasing a flock of bees (“la fin”) or an intense chess match (“joueurs d’échecs”) covering entire walls. Another is the Quartier de Blaise where wolves and a little girl with a red cape (“une fille et un loup”) adorn its walls, prompting you to search out all the variations in the area. Exiting the quartier and wandering towards the Campagne de Paris, you pass by the Square Edith Piaf, where you can find a tiny plaque and a music box (“la môme”) that still plays her tunes.

Another area filled with unique art is Montmartre. As you walk up the backside, you can discover an artful record (“le petit duc”) high on a wall at the top of a long stairway. Sometimes the art can suddenly catch your eye. Like one Sunday while biking to a get-together at La Coupole, I stopped and turned around to capture the story above the Rue Marie et Pierre Curie sign, which educated me that she won two Nobel Prizes in two different sciences (“rue Marie et Pierre Curie”). The path along the Coulée Verte (featured in this vignette) is another open-air gallery, exhibiting more skillful artists (“les pensées”). Heading home through the 11th arrondissement, I spotted a meditating woman in a cape (“super woman”).

Sometimes the street art is not on the walls at all. As I walked down the stairs to the metro near the Opéra, I found the wall adorned with painted actors having their makeup done prior to a show (“maquillage dans le metro”). Even the neat and clean Saint-Germain-en-Laye has its unique style (“madame le Sévigné”) that stylishly decorates boring things like a utility box.

So, next time you’re out and about, be sure to explore and enjoy this vibrant side of Paris — and keep your eyes peeled for the next Banksy.