Beneath the gray concrete pillars of the bridge running along Boulevard Périphérique in southeast Paris lies one of the city’s most fascinating and authentic street art hubs: Spot 13. Once an abandoned industrial zone, it has in recent years become an open sanctuary for artists, communities, and anyone seeking the raw and genuine face of urban culture.
At 25 Quai d’Ivry, 75013 Paris, you’ll find an ever-changing “open museum” – a place without borders or hierarchy. Emerging and established artists alike come here to paint, experiment, make mistakes, rewrite, and create anew. Every wall, pillar, and slab of concrete tells a different story – a story of freedom, expression, and a city that pulses beneath the surface.
From Industrial Zone to Open Creative Space
Spot 13 is located in Paris’s 13th arrondissement, (25 quai d’Ivry 75013 Paris) just under the Boulevard Périphérique bridges and not far from Lavo//Matik, (20 Boulevard du Général d’Armée Jean Simon, 75013 Paris) one of the city’s key street art galleries. The area has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the past decade – from a gray transportation hub into a cultural-urban space where every wall is a canvas and every pillar an invitation to dialogue.
The initiative was launched by local artist Joko, who saw opportunity in these neglected corners. He began painting on the empty pillars and gradually turned the site into a meeting point for other artists. Today, it is one of the most open and free artistic spaces in Paris – a “gallery without doors” that showcases the city’s most dynamic and contemporary street art language.
Creativity Without Limits
What makes Spot 13 unique is the transient, ever-changing nature of its art. No piece here lasts forever – every work is born atop the ruins of the previous one. Artists work side by side, sometimes even on the same day, leaving behind temporary marks. It is a massive experimental field where creativity bursts without constraints of time, style, or technique.
You can find everything here: classic graffiti with fiery lettering, precisely painted figurative pieces, colorful paste-ups, and even three-dimensional works created from industrial debris. Artists come from all over the world – some stay for only a few weeks, while others are locals who know every corner beneath the bridge.
A Photographer’s Dream
Spot 13 is a paradise for photographers and content creators. The reflected light between the pillars, the contrast between gray concrete and vivid colors, and the constant change of artworks all create a visually captivating experience.
If you plan to photograph, the best times to visit are morning or early afternoon, when the soft light enhances the textures of the walls and colors.
Sharing, Community, and Living Culture
Unlike galleries or curated art spaces, Spot 13 has no curator, no director, and no strict rules. It is managed by the artists themselves, driven by a deep sense of shared space. Occasionally, organized gatherings bring dozens of artists together to paint on the same day. These events have become a symbol of the Parisian street art community – open, collaborative, and ego-free.
For guided tours, street art workshops, photoshoots, or productions, you can contact the association directly via their website or by email: spot13paris@gmail.com.
The site is private property, jointly owned by SEMAPA and the 13th arrondissement’s municipality, and managed by Spot 13. It is open to the public from 12:00 to 18:00, except on Sundays and Mondays.
Lavo//Matik – The Cultural Heart of Parisian Street Art
A short walk from Spot 13 lies Lavo//Matik, ((20 Boulevard du Général d’Armée Jean Simon, 75013 Paris)) one of the most distinctive and influential galleries in the city’s street art scene. It combines a gallery, bookstore, and cultural space – maintaining a rare sense of authenticity in an increasingly commercialized world.
The gallery opened in 2014, founded by a group of independent artists and curators seeking to create a true home for street art. From the beginning, it was clear this was something different – not a glossy or pretentious venue, but a living, open space where emerging and established artists meet, exhibit, sell, and discuss contemporary creation on equal terms.
Why Spot 13 Matters
Spot 13 is much more than a “graffiti and street art site” – it is a free expression of a modern city that understands real art doesn’t always begin in galleries. It begins on the street, on a wall, in hands stained with paint.
This is a place where artists and community meet, where ideas are born and erased, creating an ongoing visual dialogue. In that sense, Spot 13 is not just a location – it is the beating heart of contemporary Paris. It reminds us that street art is not mere decoration but a language, a rebellion, and an act of love.
Street Art with City Support
Spot 13 is a free-creation zone – artists work here without fear of fines, cleanups, or arrests. The city recognizes that street art is not a threat but an opportunity – a way to give new life to concrete walls, bridges, and the spaces between neighborhoods.
This approach has created an open and creative environment that attracts local and international artists to experiment, collaborate, and fill the public space with color and ideas.
Moreover, the municipality itself supports the activity through organized projects, event funding, and the opening of designated free-art areas. These initiatives give artists a sense of security and genuine freedom of expression, where creativity is not a crime but part of a smart cultural policy.
Thanks to this collaboration, Paris has become one of the few cities in the world with a direct dialogue between authorities and the artistic community – making places like Lavo//Matik and Spot 13 living laboratories of urban culture that continue to evolve and influence contemporary art worldwide.
Instagram (Spot 13): @spot__13
Instagram (Korner 13): @13__korner
Official website (Lavo//Matik): lelavomatik.com
Among the artists whose works appear in the series of posts on street art and graffiti in Paris: SETH (Julien Malland), C215 (Christian Guémy), Vhils (Alexandre Farto), KASHINK (Maëva Martinez), Vale_Stencil (Valérian Lenud), The Pop Suréalist, The End of Animals (THE END), L’Empreinte Jo V (La Dactylo), IPDO (I Pixel di Oplontis), Mathieu 1976 (Mathieu Dussaucy), DJERADI LUDOVIC (Ludovic Djeradi), JR, Invader, Miss.Tic, Jef Aérosol, Blek Le Rat, Speedy Graphito, Hopare, Astro, Ardif, Ludo, Levalet (Charles Leval), Jo Di Bona, Monsieur Chat (Thoma Vuille), Zevs, Combo CK (Combo Culture Kidnapper), Alëxone Dizac, Tilt, Lek & Sowat, L’Atlas, Romain Froquet, Philippe Baudelocque, Jérôme Mesnager, Vinie Graffiti, Kalouf, Maye, A-MO, Clet Abraham, OakOak, Ender, Mosko et Associés, Codex Urbanus, Ella & Pitr, Dourone, Shaka (Marchal Mithouard), Raphael Federici, Pboy, Sismikazot, Kurar, Gregos, Tarek, Jace, Nasty, Doudou Style, FKDL, RNST, Zepha, Jerk 45, Onemizer, Bault, Polar Bear, Céz Art, Guy Denning, SP38, Zeer, Dume, Tanc, Kaldea, Antistatik, Reso, Woizo, MadC, Jober, Abys, Guaté Mao, Psyckoze, MonkeyBird Crew, Mantra, Aude Villerouge, Loraine Motti, Jean Faucheur, Jibé, Bom.K, Gris1, Aéro, JBC, Le MoDuLe De ZeeR, D*Face, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, 2Shy, Aroe, Babs, Bates, Brusk, Can2, Case Maclaim, Chanoir, Create, Darco, Dize, Gyz, Insane 51, Jaba, Jonone, Katre, Marko 93, Noé2One Mizer, Pro176, Remio, Schuck2, Snake, T-Kid, Tony Noel, Vision, Zenoy
Street Art in Le Marais Paris
Street Art Along Canal de l’Ourcq
LUDOVIC – Urban Chaos
Mathieu 1976 – Angels in Paris
IPDO – The Smurfs on the Wall
The Women of L’Empreinte Jo V
The Pop Suréalist
KASHINK – Paris’ Female Voice
Spot 13 – Paris
La Promenade Plantée – Paris
Street Art Avenue Paris
Street Art in Montmartre
The Giant Mural Project in Paris
THE END OF ANIMALS
The Belleville Character
VHILS – Carved in Stone
59 Rivoli – Alternative Art in Paris
The Children of SETH
Vale_Stencil – Colorful Stencil Art
