Raphaëlle and her two children are about to leave the building on Place de la Défense. With her kids, the young woman immersed herself for two hours in the history of street art, narrated on four levels by the Zoo Art Show collective.
Installed since last June in this disused building, this XXL exhibition that unfolds, floor by floor, the history of street art, is extending its run. After an initial theoretical end in 2025 and a postponement in June, the success convinced the organizers and the owner of the walls to continue the experience until the end of next December. A tour de force marked by incredible success.
“We have exceeded 120,000 paying visits. We are very, very proud,” notes Antoine, the leader of Zoo Art Show, the collective of Lyon artists created in 2018. “This is the French record for a paid exhibition on this theme. It’s a huge score, all achieved without subsidies,” adds Claude Kunetz, owner of the Wallworks gallery in the 10th arrondissement of Paris.
The Zoo Art Show offers 4,000 m2 of artwork spread over five levels. The exhibition allows visitors to discover the work of 500 artists from 30 different nationalities. The journey begins on the 5th floor with the dark and brutal atmosphere of the “Vandal squat”, from the wild days of the 1980s and 1990s. Downstairs, the works are now displayed in galleries and museums. Between these two extremes lies the richness of this art, its trends, and techniques. Endorsed by purists, the Zoo Art Show aims to be a “popular” exhibition, accessible to graffiti artists and grandmothers alike.
“Feeling like being on the street”
After promising but not explosive beginnings, the Zoo Art Show took on a new dimension in late 2025. “We have formed strategic partnerships with major players like Fever ticketing and Paris Society,” insists Antoine. Word of mouth, broad media coverage, and, according to the founder, “over 7,000 reviews on the Internet and a rating of 4.8 out of 5,” have boosted attendance. All time slots were booked for the long weekends of May.
On the floors, there are locals, tourists, weekend residents from the provinces. “During their school holidays, a third of the visitors came from Northern European countries,” observes Claude.
The first contact, with the wild universe of the early days of tagging, is a real eye-opener. “There’s a ‘wow’ effect on the 5th floor when you get out of the elevator,” confirms the gallery owner. “It’s true, on the 5th floor, I felt like I was on the street!” adds Raphaëlle. Each floor is a labyrinth where each door, each room, reveals a different experience.
With a treasure hunt and an introduction to graffiti on a digital screen, even the youngest visitors are not forgotten. In recent months, professional artists have taken turns there. “For a month, we had Rime, who came from New York. He led workshops for adults and children. Everyone finds something they enjoy!”
For information and prices, visit zooartshow.com.
