We only occasionally get the chance to watch a street artist at work. Somehow these works of art seem to appear almost magically on our streets, created perhaps overnight while we sleep? Some of course take many hours, even days, to complete. But others are much simpler and while they may have less impact still brighten our day.
On our recent Paris trip, as we sat having lunch in a café near the Stalingrad Rotunda, I spotted a street artist working on an old building by the nearby canal. His art consisted of applying pre-cut strips of coloured paper to a bricked-up window. Although very different in style, his use of the window reminded me of the pieces we’d seen a few weeks before in Knaresborough.
I snapped a few photos from my seat as he worked, and when we’d finished our meal we went over for a closer look. I’m not sure if this piece would even have caught my eye had I not seen its creation, but having done so I thought it would be interesting to share for this week’s Photographing Public Art Challenge.
And here are some more examples of street art spotted on this latest visit to my favourite city. They range from the tiny to the huge, from monochrome to gaudy colour. There were too many for one post so I’ll save some for a few weeks’ time.
I last visited Paris in September 2022, when all these photos were taken
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salsaworldtraveler
These are great examples of street art. The construction of the window cube is really interesting.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – yes, I was intrigued and thought others might like to see it too 🙂
rkrontheroad
I would not have guessed that geometric shape was formed by tape (or something similar) if I hadn’t a glimpse into the process! The b&w at the top of this post is my favorite though. It makes me want to put some of those phrases, or quotes, into my computer’s translator.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you enjoyed seeing these Ruth 🙂 That B&W mural stretched the full length of a wall – I’ll share more shots of it in due course!
Amy
How wonderful and fun to see these street artworks in Paris! So much to see and enjoy in Paris. 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
So true Amy, it’s impossible to be bored there!
SoyBend
Beautiful examples large and small, Sarah! I liked the pictures of the artist at work. I’m always amazed when an artist can work with so many distractions nearby.
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Siobhan 🙂 He seemed very focused on his work, although I did notice at one point somebody stopped to chat and perhaps ask questions about what he was doing.
grandmisadventures
It is always so interesting to look at the street art of an area 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, it’s something I look for and enjoy wherever we travel 🙂
For Singles and Couples
Great post and photography.
Covid and the certain country requirements for a vaccine has really put a spanner in the works of something I love doing.
Thanks for sharing.
Sarah Wilkie
Not sure where you are based but although Covid stopped us travelling for a while it is firmly back on our agenda 🙂
Marie
Well spotted Sarah! A wonderful collection as always – I love street art…
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marie 🙂 I love it too, if well done, as most of the pieces I spotted on this trip were.
Sue
Excellent! I have a few images of artists at work, spray cans and all,, must dig them out!
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes do – they’d be perfect for Marsha’s weekly challenge 🙂
Sue
Marsha’s challenge?
Sarah Wilkie
The Photographing Public Art challenge, every Friday – I linked to it above: https://alwayswrite.blog/2022/09/09/ppac-63-a-day-of-public-mourning/
thehungrytravellers.blog
I bet you would be interested to visit the museum we went to in Guadalajara, dedicated to the famous muralist Orozco, particularly the section which showed the creation of a giant mural step by step. Part mathematics and geometry, part art and inspiration. It was absolutely absorbing.
Sarah Wilkie
Oh yes, that does sound fascinating! Your recent posts about Mexico have (mostly) got me very interested to visit one day soon 🙂
Anonymous
How fun to have been able to see the art being created Sarah! Loved the way you presented it and the other pieces as well. Terrific post.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Tina 🙂 I’m still trying to work out why your comments are sometimes coming through as anonymous and in need of moderation when it’s really obvious it’s you!
restlessjo
A lucky seat in that restaurant, Sarah! The cuboid(?) turned out well.
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, although Chris was a bit frustrated as he had his back to the artist and I kept stopping eating to pick up my camera and take a photo 😆 And cuboid is as good a word as any for a shape I couldn’t begin to name!
restlessjo
I try to restrain myself whilst eating, but that would have been irresistible. Mick usually has to look at the wall behind me 🤣💗
Sarah Wilkie
Good for him 🙂 Chris insists on taking turns at that, although on this occasion we were at a pavement table that offered views in both directions – I was just lucky to get the artist on my side 😀
restlessjo
🤣💗
starship VT
Thanks for sharing these photos from your recent trip to Paris, Sarah! Street art certainly has become a drawing card for so many cities. To be honest, some of it I really like, while some not so much! That being said, I was going to put some of the street art I saw while in Norway on my FB very soon. I’d be very interested in what you think of it!!
Sarah Wilkie
I don’t like all of it either Sylvia, but I tend not to photograph the pieces I don’t like. It’s also a question of location. In a dull area almost any bright street art can look good, but in a smarter more elegant street it needs to have a delicacy of touch and palette to work, imho 🙂
margaret21
We’ve only once caught a street artist ‘in the act’. Ours however was working with a whole collection of spray cans. It was fascinating to see how he deployed what looks like a fairly crude blunt instrument with such delicacy and sensitivity. Oh, and speed. We were impressed.
Sarah Wilkie
That would be fascinating to watch Margaret! I’ve seen someone work with a brush in the past but never spray cans to date.
Marsha
What an interesting assortment of art very much Parisian. I tried to read the first one and my French is so sketchy but it was fun to try. Lots going on in that one. Artistically wise I loved the insect in Paris 2020. They didn’t have to worry about restricted movement during COVID. Thank you so much for including the artist at work. I think it turned out beautifully. Will it hold up very long since it is made of paper? Thanks for sharing these. I look forward to the next installment.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Marsha 😊 I can read parts of that first one but not all! It’s part of an even longer piece – I’ll share more in my next post. The insect (a fly) was much bigger than I show too, but had an annoying railing making photographing the whole pretty much impossible 🙁 As for the paper, it’s in a sheltered spot and a recessed window but no, I don’t think it will last as long as a painted work would.
Anne Sandler
I love street art. Thank you for bringing art from other countries to me. Well done!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Anne, glad you liked seeing these 🙂
Annie Berger
Lucky us that you happened to sit in the perfect spot to capture an artist at work, Sarah, while at the cafe. I’ve recently become a big fan of murals and street art so thank you for adding to that.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you liked these Annie 🙂