Since 2021, a former theatre in the 9th arrondissement has hosted an exhibition devoted to Banksy, the British street artist whose identity remains unknown. The name is a little misleading: this isn't an official museum, and neither Banksy nor his authentication body Pest Control have any connection to the venue. What you'll find instead are life-size reproductions of his best-known works, recreated by local street artists inside immersive sets that recall their original urban settings: brick walls, construction hoardings, and a matching soundtrack.
Full-size reconstructed settings
Rather than framed prints on a wall, the exhibition rebuilds the street environment each piece originally appeared in: alleyways, hoardings, urban furniture. The organisers frame this as a way to preserve fleeting works that are often damaged, painted over, or sold off soon after appearing on the street.
The real Banksy, on the streets of Paris
Banksy has produced several stencils in the French capital, including a 2018 series along the Seine and near rue Bonaparte inspired by the migrant crisis. Like most of his street pieces, they didn't last long against the weather, rival taggers, or the art market: several have since been cut from their walls and sold at auction.
Still anonymous
Despite decades of journalistic digging and several attempts to unmask him, Banksy's identity has never been officially confirmed. That anonymity is part of the work itself, keeping the focus on the political and social message rather than the artist.
Tips
The museum is at 44 rue du Faubourg Montmartre (9th arrondissement), a short walk from Grands Boulevards, Le Peletier, and Notre-Dame-de-Lorette metro stations. Tickets start at 14 euros; opening hours vary by day, with a later closing time on weekends. It's worth checking before you go, since the venue is privately run and independent of the city's municipal museums.
