Free Art in Paris: Open-Air Sculptures & Outdoor Galleries

Where to See Paris’s Most Inspiring Art Without a Ticket

Paris is an open-air museum — and some of its most powerful art is completely free to see. From world-class sculptures tucked into gardens to provocative street art splashed across Belleville walls, the city offers visual wonder around every corner.

In this guide, you’ll discover free public art scattered across Paris — with map tips, artist bios, and suggestions to take your art exploration even further.

🗿 Rodin in the Gardens: Sculptures at Musée Rodin & Beyond

📍 Hôtel Biron Gardens (Musée Rodin Grounds)

🎟️ Free to explore the sculpture garden with a ticket, but free on the first Sunday of the month (Oct–Mar)
🗿 Works Featured: The Thinker, The Gates of Hell, Balzac
🌳 Tip: Even viewed from outside the gates, Rodin’s bronze works feel monumental.

📍 Map Location: Musée Rodin Garden – Google Maps »

📍 Tuileries Garden Sculptures

A walk through this elegant park between the Louvre and Place de la Concorde reveals 20+ monumental works
Artists include Rodin, Giacometti, and Louise Bourgeois

💡 Don’t Miss: Le Bel Costumé by Jean Dubuffet and Grand Commandement Blanc by Alain Kirili

🎨 Street Art in Paris: Belleville, Oberkampf & the 13th

📍 Rue Dénoyez, Belleville

A constantly changing canvas of urban art, graffiti, and murals
Artists like Seth Globepainter and Jef Aérosol have contributed major works
Free to wander, photograph, and get inspired

📍 Map Location: Rue Dénoyez – Google Maps »

🔗 Take a Self-Guided Belleville Street Art Tour »
🔗 Street Art in Paris Book »

📍 Boulevard 13 (13th Arrondissement)

Curated by Galerie Itinerrance, this outdoor project transformed buildings into massive murals
Highlights include:
- Obey (Shepard Fairey) – Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité
- INTI – Vibrant Latin American mythology fusion
- Invader – Retro game-style tile installations

📝 Artist Bio Snapshot – Shepard Fairey:
American artist known for his political imagery and the Obama HOPE poster. His mural in the 13th captures France’s revolutionary spirit with updated graphic aesthetics.

📍 Boulevard Vincent Auriol – Google Maps »

🌉 Installations Along the Seine: Bridges & Riverwalks

📍 Passerelle Simone-de-Beauvoir

Contemporary pedestrian bridge near the Bibliothèque Nationale
Known for rotating outdoor art installations and architectural photography opportunities

📍 Quai Branly – Musée Quai Branly Gardens

Sculptures and indigenous-inspired art pieces surround the museum’s exterior
Free to explore the garden area and see works by artists from Africa, Oceania, Asia, and the Americas

📍 Musée Quai Branly Gardens – Google Maps »

🧑‍🎨 Bonus: Hidden Gems & Local Commissions

🪨 Buren’s Columns (Les Deux Plateaux) at the Palais Royal — Instagrammable black-and-white striped columns
👁 Arman’s “Accumulations” at La Défense — giant public sculptures made of musical instruments or car parts
💬 Poetic Tiles by Ben Vautier (Place Igor Stravinsky) — clever text installations across city walls

📚 Want to Dive Deeper?

While these spots are 100% free to enjoy, here’s how to elevate your experience:

🎧 Urban Art Audio Tours (Belleville, 13th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter)
📘 Art History Books:
- Street Art Paris by Valerie Gelezeau
- The History of Art in Paris (Visual Traveler series)

👉 Affiliate CTAs:
🔗 Book a Paris Street Art Walking Tour »
🔗 Browse Paris Art History eBooks »

Final Tip: Keep Your Eyes Open

Free art in Paris isn’t always labeled — it might be a mosaic on a wall, a brass figure on a sidewalk, or a mysterious sculpture in a courtyard. Walk slowly, look up, and let the city speak.