The Petit Palais in Paris is hosting the second edition of its free urban art exhibition, "We are (still) here," from June 20 to September 20, 2026. Organized in collaboration with Galerie Itinerrance, the show features nearly 200 works by over 60 French and international street artists, including Invader, Shepard Fairey, and Vhils, displayed throughout the museum's permanent collection galleries and the Concorde Room. The installations blend contemporary street art with classical masterpieces, creating a dialogue between generations and cultures.
The exhibition matters because it marks the continued institutional embrace of street art within a prestigious fine arts museum, challenging traditional hierarchies between high art and urban expression. By offering free admission and integrating works into the permanent collection, the Petit Palais makes contemporary art accessible to a broad audience while highlighting street art's capacity for social commentary on inequality, civil rights, and identity. The show's success underscores a growing trend of museums legitimizing and preserving ephemeral urban art forms.