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10 Must-See Street Art Works

Graphic, humorous, poetic or political, Street Art was born in the streets of Philadelphia in the 1960s. Still subversive today, it's even making its way into galleries, and has definitely found its place on the contemporary art market. Here's a look at the 10 works that can't be ignored.

By Cécile Martet | 14 Aug 2023

 

1. Jef Aerosol, Chuuuttt !!!

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Chuuuttt !!! by Jef Aerosol in Paris

Located in Paris, near the Centre Pompidou, opposite the Tinguely Fountain, this ginormous 350 m² stencil was created by French artist Jef Aerosol in 2011. This self-portrait is an invitation to pause and find calm within the hustle and bustle of urban life... but also to respect artistic creation.

2. Thoma Vuille, M. Chat

10 Must-See Street Art Works
M.Chat in December 2004 on the pavement outside Centre Pompidou

Since the late 90s, big, smiling yellow cats have been popping up on walls all over France. We owe this character, M.Chat, to Thoma Vuille, a Franco-Swiss artist who has had numerous run-ins with the law because of his work. In 2004, this mischievous feline even appeared on the forecourt of the Centre Pompidou!

3. Banksy, Little Girl with a Balloon

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Banksy, Little Girl With Balloon (London, 2004)


Arguably the best-known street artist since the early noughties, Banksy created the stencil "Little Girl with a Balloon" on Waterloo Bridge in South Bank (2002). A child dressed in a black dress lets a heart-shaped balloon float away. "There's always hope", he wrote. Banksy's work is often humorous, anti-militaristic and anti-system. 

4. JR, Inside Out Project

10 Must-See Street Art Works
JR, Inside Out, Outside the Panthéon / Photo by Yann Caradec [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)] / Source : flickr.com

French street artist JR adorns walls around the world with his huge black-and-white portraits of anonymous people. Launched in 2011, his Inside Out project was made possible by the American TED prize that the artist received for "changing the world".

5. iHeart, Nobody likes me

10 Must-See Street Art Works
iHeart, Nobody Likes me

A symbol of a hyper-connected society, the work of Canadian artist iHeart confronts us with the pressures of contemporary e-reputation. A crying child, smartphone in hand, demonstrates the painful wait for internet praise and validation. 

6. Invader, Space Invader

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Space Invader in Paris

Invader's urban mosaics require you to look up. He places icons from video games and cartoons high up on walls, perhaps as a way to lift our gaze from our devices and be inspired by what's around us. His first "Space Invader" was installed near the Place de la Bastille in 1996; since then, the artist has installed them worldwide, defining himself as a hacker of public space.

7. Shepard Fairey, Obey

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Obey in Berlin

American artist Shepard Fairey is a big name in urban art. Starting with the work "Obey", which was displayed in the form of posters and stickers, he launched a street movement called "Obey Giant". A silkscreen artist and illustrator, he gained international recognition in 2008 for producing the famous "Hope" poster for Barack Obama during the American presidential elections.

8. Miss. Tic, Muses and Men

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Miss. Tic, Muses et Hommes (Paris, 2017)

It's hard to choose just one work by the artist Miss. Tic. Her poetic and witty stencils can be seen on the walls of Paris's 13th arrondissement. A feminist and committed artist, her works depict women accompanied by hijacked 'slogans'.

9. Os Geomos, The Giant of Boston

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Os Geomos, The Giant of Boston / Photo by Digboston, Source : flickr.com / Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)

Twin brothers nicknamed Os Geomos painted one of the façades of the Rose Kennedy Greenway park in Boston in 2012. A huge fresco that colours the city thanks to this yellow character, emblematic of the Brazilian duo's universe.

10. Keith Haring, We the Youth

10 Must-See Street Art Works
Keith Haring, We The Youth (Philadelphia, 1987, Mural) / By Rgs25 (own work), via Wikimedia Commons

The militant artist Keith Haring left his mark on the world of Pop Art and street art, being one of the first artists to create murals. Recognised for his distinct style, he created "We the Youth" in Philadelphia in 1987. Today, it is the only mural by Haring to have survived intact on its original site.


 

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