Street Art Invades Paris‘ Petit Palais: A Bold New Exhibition

For the first time, the hallowed halls of Paris’ Petit Palais are hosting a vibrant explosion of urban art. The exhibition, “We Are Here,” running until January 19, 2025, presents a captivating and frequently enough irreverent dialog between the museum’s classical collection and the powerful works of thirteen international street artists. This isn’t your typical museum show; think giant paint bombs erupting from mosaic floors and colossal wings adorning the building’s entrance.

The brainchild of Mehdi Ben Cheikh, a parisian gallery owner with a two-decade-long passion for street art, the exhibition represents a bold challenge: integrating urban art into the traditionally conservative world of museums. Ben Cheikh chose the Petit Palais for its past significance; the site once housed the Palais de l’Industrie,where the infamous salon des Refusés was held in 1863,showcasing artists rejected by official exhibitions – artists who later became giants of art history,like Édouard Manet. “I think that our era will also be marked by street art,” Ben Cheikh stated in a recent interview. “It’s a whole generation that imposes its aesthetic codes.”

Shaking Up the Status Quo

The Petit Palais exhibition offers a free-flowing exploration of new works, reflecting street art’s inherent accessibility. The show masterfully intertwines the museum’s permanent collection with the powerful statements of artists like Shepard Fairey, Invader, D*Face, Seth, Cleon Peterson, Hush, Swoon, Vhils, Inti, Add Fuel, and Conor harrington. Their monumental pieces forge unexpected connections with the museum’s classical holdings.

The exhibition’s title, “We Are Here,” speaks volumes. It’s a bold declaration of street art’s arrival on the institutional art scene, demanding recognition and legitimacy. From figuration and abstraction to collages, paintings, stencils, and sculptures, the exhibition showcases the diversity of urban art while concurrently challenging established norms – the very essence of street art itself.

This exhibition isn’t just about art; it’s about a cultural shift, a conversation between generations, and a testament to the enduring power of artistic expression.For U.S. art enthusiasts, this exhibition offers a glimpse into a global movement that’s rapidly gaining traction, blurring the lines between traditional and contemporary art forms.

“We Are Here – an exploration of urban art at the Petit Palais,” Petit Palais, Paris, from June 12, 2024 to January 19, 2025.

Parisian palace Gets a Street Art Makeover: An Exclusive Interview on the “We are Here” Exhibition

This groundbreaking exhibition at Paris’ Petit Palais is bridging the gap between customary and contemporary art, showcasing the power and relevance of street art in the institutional museum world. We spoke with Dr.Isabelle Dupont, a renowned art historian specializing in contemporary urban art movements, to delve deeper into this bold cultural commentary.



World Today News: Dr. Dupont, thank you for joining us. the “We Are Here” exhibition at the Petit Palais is making headlines for its unconventional approach. What makes this exhibition so important?



Dr. Isabelle Dupont: It’s truly a watershed moment. for the first time, a prestigious institution like the Petit Palais is dedicating an entire exhibition to street art. This isn’t just about showing eye-catching murals; it’s about recognizing street art as a legitimate and influential art form deserving of a place within the larger art historical narrative.



World Today News: The exhibition features works by internationally recognized street artists like shepard Fairey and Invader. how does their work interact with the Petit palais’ classical collection?



Dr. Isabelle Dupont: The curators have done an incredible job of creating a dialog between the old and the new. for example, a massive stencil by Banksy might be juxtaposed with a Renaissance sculpture, prompting viewers to consider the evolution of artistic expression through time. It’s a very thought-provoking experience.



World Today News: The exhibition’s title, “We Are here,” is quite bold. What statement is the exhibition trying to make?



Dr. Isabelle Dupont: It’s a declaration of arrival. Street art has long been marginalized, seen as rebellious or even vandalism. “We Are Here” asserts the movement’s presence and importance in the art world, challenging traditional notions of what constitutes fine art.





World Today News: Mehdi ben Cheikh, the exhibition’s curator, draws a parallel between street artists and the artists of the Salon des refusés in 1863. Can you elaborate on that comparison?



Dr. isabelle Dupont: Both groups were considered radical in their time, pushing boundaries and challenging the established art establishment. Just as the Salon des Refusés paved the way for Impressionism, “We are Here” suggests that street art may ultimately be recognized as a significant artistic movement in its own right.



World Today News: What do you hope visitors will take away from this exhibition?



Dr. Isabelle Dupont: I hope they’ll come away with a deeper gratitude for the power and diversity of street art. I also hope it inspires them to reconsider their own preconceived notions about art and its role in society.



World Today News: Dr. Dupont,thanks for sharing yoru insights. This certainly sounds like an exhibition worth experiencing.



Dr. Isabelle Dupont: It truly is. I encourage everyone to visit the Petit Palais and witness this exciting moment in art history firsthand.