Discovering (together) the vibrant street art in Vitry-sur-Seine, located just a few train stops away from the heart of Paris.
Earlier this year, I had the unique opportunity to explore Vitry-sur-Seine with readers of the Blocal blog, delving deep into what is widely regarded as Paris’ street art hub. Embracing both murals and spontaneous artworks, this charming small town just outside Paris has become a cornerstone of Europe’s street art scene, inviting travelers from around the globe to witness its rich urban art collection first hand.
Our exploration began with the highly-detailed stencil works of Christian Guémy, known as C215, who has been instrumental in Vitry-sur-Seine’s metamorphosis into a hub for street art. His decision to move to Vitry in 2008 to be closer to his daughter Nina marked the beginning of an era.
Vitry-sur-Seine boasts a rich history as a hub for arts and culture, and it didn’t take long for C215 to realize he had become part of a community that was exceptionally welcoming to street art. The French street artist began painting on electrical boxes, rusty doors, mailboxes, and more street furniture, embracing the chance to turn Vitry-sur-Seine into a leading center for street art in Paris.
In Vitry-sur-Seine, C215 found freedom and respect for his art, a stark contrast to the restrictions he faced in Paris. The community’s embrace of his work set the stage for Vitry-sur-Seine’s transformation, with the town’s laissez-faire approach to tags and graffiti enabling artists to create without fear.
“Vitry is unique; its streets tell the story of something special that unfolded in a very special district, during a specific time. It’s an episode, not a reflection of all that went down in Paris.”
C215
In 2013, a significant milestone was reached when C215 convinced the city hall to allocate two giant walls for Kouka‘s towering sentinels, adding a new layer to Vitry’s urban tapestry. These murals, embodying both protection and mystery, symbolize the town’s open arms to the art form.
Over the years, C215 invited his friends and fellow street artists from across the globe, making Vitry-sur-Seine a pivotal destination for street art enthusiasts. Names like Roa, Orticanoodles, Borondo, Gaia, Ethos, Alice Pasquini, and many others have left their mark, contributing to the town’s dynamic mural collection.
The collective effort of these artists has turned Vitry-sur-Seine into a model of urban creativity and tolerance, with C215’s and Bebar’s works particularly standing out. Bebar, a local artist, infuses the streets with his unique blend of representation and abstraction, adding vibrant colors and playful energy to the town’s landscape since he began painting in the streets at just 12 years old, back in 2005.
This rich tapestry of street art not only beautifies the town but also fosters a spontaneous sense of respect among its viewers, allowing the art to age organically (without being withewashed by the authority nor painted over by graffiti writers) and become historic markers of Vitry-sur-Seine’s evolution. The town’s unapologetic freedom and the hands-off approach of the municipality have nurtured a free-spirited street art scene, distinct from the more regulated environments found elsewhere.
One of the best aspects of our journey through Vitry-sur-Seine’s street art was witnessing the evolution of artists’ styles. Pieces by Jimmy C., Judith De Leeuw, Alice Pasquini, and Astro, created before they became iconic, offer a glimpse into the artists’ developmental stages, enriching the street art narrative of Vitry-sur-Seine.
With nearly 100 artworks dotting the town, Vitry-sur-Seine stands as a testament to the transformative power of street art, and a global destination for street art travelers unveiling Paris’ urban art scene.
Photo by Paolo Giannotti.
And now, let’s explore some of the standout walls that have turned to be your favorites, each telling a unique story in the ever-evolving narrative of Vitry-sur-Seine’s street art.
Top Murals in Vitry-sur-Seine (as voted by the BLocal’s readers who explored Paris’ street art with me)
Mural by PixelPancho in Vitry-sur-Seine
As we exited the RER station, our gaze was immediately drawn to a captivating mural by Italian street artist PixelPancho. Born in Turin in 1984, Pixel Pancho has carved a niche for himself with his unique exploration of the robotized man, revealing a poignant commentary on the interface between humanity and technology.
With an ironic take on French stereotypes and icons, PixelPancho’s mural in Vitry-sur-Seine invites passersby like us into Pixel Pancho’s world where robots symbolize the complexity of human emotion and experience.
Mural by ROA in Vitry-sur-Seine
As we entered Vitry-sur-Seine, we encountered a striking mural by ROA that captivated our imagination. Situated in a charming square adorned with urban gardens meticulously tended by residents, this masterpiece by the Belgian street artist ROA introduces visitors to Vitry-sur-Seine’s urban art collection as one of the first large-scale murals they’re likely to see (especially if you are coming by train, as we did).
ROA, celebrated for his intricate black-and-white depictions of animals that bear a symbolic connection to their surroundings, has chosen the great cormorant as the subject of this mural. This choice is deeply rooted in the local ecosystem, as great cormorants are a common sight along the Seine and in the parks scattered around Paris. The mural not only showcases ROA’s remarkable talent for capturing the essence and elegance of his animal subjects with rich detail but also reflects his commitment to integrating elements of the local natural environment into the urban landscape, encouraging a dialogue between the viewer and the often overlooked wildlife of the region.
Mural by Jorge Rodriguez-Gerada in Vitry-sur-Seine
In the diverse tapestry of street art around Vitry-sur-Seine, the portraits of Nina by her father, Christian Guémy (C215), hold a special place, yet they are not the only tributes to this young muse within the city’s urban canvas. The Spanish street artist Jorge Rodríguez-Gerada has contributed a significant piece to this narrative with a stunning portrait of the sweet Nina. Remarkably, this work stands as the largest mural in Vitry-sur-Seine.
Through this immense portrait, the artist not only captures the essence of Nina but also embeds her image into the fabric of Vitry-sur-Seine, inviting passersby to engage with the artwork and reflect on the themes of youth, innocence, and the fleeting nature of childhood.
Street Art by Icy & Sot in Vitry-sur-Seine
The Iranian-born brothers and celebrated street artists, Icy & Sot, are known for their bold and politically charged artwork. In this pedestrian-area of Vitry-sur-Seine, a square amidst buildings that is rich with street art, Icy & Sot have placed a compelling mural titled “Dollar.” This piece delivers a stark critique on how the pursuit of money can obscure the truth and lead people to compromise their core values. Through “Dollar,” Icy & Sot invite us to question the lure of financial gain and consider what truly holds value in our lives.
This mural is a prime example of Icy & Sot’s early style: using stenciled imagery and succinct, powerful messages to spark conversations on global issues like human rights, social justice, and capitalism’s influence. Initially embracing stencil art in the streets of Tabriz, Iran, in the early 2000s, the duo has lately switched to contemporary art installations. Yet, their message remains consistent across mediums.
As we, the BLocal travelers, discovered during our exploration, Vitry-sur-Seine’s street art collection serves indeed as a living archive of the early work of today’s leading artists.
Mural by Nychos in Vitry-sur-Seine
Vitry-sur-Seine is also home to an early masterpiece by the renowned graffiti artist Nychos, known for his unique dissection style. With a background in a hunting family, Nychos has always been fascinated by anatomy, a theme that deeply influences his art. Born in Austria in 1982, he has earned international praise for his intricate, large-scale murals. These artworks often showcase vivid, sometimes startling, anatomical details and dissections.
Nychos skillfully merges traditional graffiti with a profound exploration of biology and anatomy, creating pieces that captivate and challenge viewers. His work is marked by meticulous detail, vibrant colors, and a remarkable ability to unravel his subjects layer by layer. This approach reveals the internal complexities of his figures, marrying realism with a surreal sense of clarity and depth.
- Read also: “A chat with graffiti writer Nychos“
In Vitry-sur-Seine, one of Nychos’s murals uniquely depicts a man within a rabbit, symbolizing the artist’s personal connection to the animal. The rabbit is indeed particularly meaningful to Nychos, who, in 2005, founded the “Rabbit Eye Movement” art gallery in Vienna.
Street Art by David Walker in Vitry-sur-Seine
In the heart of Vitry-sur-Seine, we discovered two captivating portraits by British street artist David Walker. Renowned for his unique approach to street art, Walker brings his subjects to life through a freehand technique and the use of spray paint. His method involves layering countless lines of color to gradually craft rich, emotive portraits of women. These street portraits are reminiscent yet distinct from that of Vitry-sur-Seine’s own street art maestro, Christian Guémy. Guémy’s mastery of layered stencils offers a compelling contrast to Walker’s spontaneous spray paint artistry, making the streets of Vitry-sur-Seine a dynamic canvas for exploring diverse artistic expressions.
This exploration of street art in Vitry-sur-Seine prompted diverse viewpoints and our group of BLocal travelers debated over which artist captured emotion more expressively in their street portraits: David Walker’s fluid portraits against Christian Guémy’s detailed stencils presented us with a fascinating spectrum of street art techniques.
Now, I invite you to join the conversation: do you lean towards David Walker’s vivid spray-painted women or Christian Guémy’s intricate stencil portraits?
As we explored together, it became clear that Vitry-sur-Seine is not just a hub for street art in Paris; it’s a global destination for those who seek to document the evolution of artists’ styles and the impact of urban art.
Thank you for joining me on this unforgettable adventure!
Vitry-sur-Seine Street Art Map
You can find these (and many more!) murals in my street art map of Paris!
