Sara Naughty

Filter

No products found

Use fewer filters or clear all

Sara Chelou – Street Art & Pop Art Artist | Paris

Education

Sara Chelou studies modern literature at Nanterre University, receives theatrical training, and earns an advanced diploma in graphic design from EMI-CFD. For a time, she hesitates between literature and the visual arts, until in 1989, at the age of 21, she joins Rézonnances, a Parisian collective of urban artists working outdoors.

Born in Paris, she grows up in a bilingual, international culture, shaped by a childhood spent traveling between Germany, Africa, and Russia, followed by a journey through Eastern Europe shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. She comes away with an adventurous taste for discovery and experimentation in her paintings, as well as memories of the colors unique to each place she visited.

Biography

Sara Chelou is a pioneer of French street art, blending pop culture and urban poetry while challenging societal norms through vibrant, revolutionary works.

An active witness to the beginnings of street art in France, she starts painting outdoors in the late 1980s in Paris, as an artist committed to the underground scene, in industrial cathedrals and libertarian wastelands. Her artistic and experimental journey explores the role of the artist in the city, as well as their place in society.

A member of some of the first artistic groups considered experimental at the time, she helps create the first urban art events and the first European festivals devoted to the subject (notably in Budapest, Hungary), then takes her art to abandoned industrial sites before moving into various Parisian studios.

In her depiction of the city, she plays with references from American pop culture — Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein — and graffiti culture from here and elsewhere. Sara Chelou also takes an engaged view of our times: her urban poetry accompanies us, and her messages make us slow down.

From street art to contemporary art, via pop art, she is part of today’s artistic revival. Her canvases speak of a graphic culture and an era in which art oscillates between the forbidden and play, leaves the studio to engage with society in the streets, and reflects the world and its tensions: a fusion of civic reflection, geek culture, and graffiti.

Her work is free, without borders.

Recognized today on the French and international art scenes, thanks to numerous exhibitions and, above all, international collectors, she sees her works exported to every continent; her colors and messages convey a salutary universality. On her canvases, the adventure continues right into your home.

“I strongly believe in the virtues of painting, which are at once subversive, humane, and generous, and in the power of love for painting, quite simply because I have experienced it and still experience it every day.”

Her vibrant works feature comic book characters and blend street art with pop art. Her compositions often convey messages related to contemporary issues — ecology, respect for differences, equal rights — while always retaining a sense of humor. Sara Chelou sees art as a spiritual evolution, depicting both reality and imagination, which, she believes, brings us closer to our universal truth. She works in oil, acrylic, and spray paint.

Solo exhibitions

1990 — First solo exhibition, Chapel of the Récollets Convent (Maison de l'architecture, Order of Architects, international artists' residence, restored historic monument), Paris, France
1995 — “Art, the City, the People,” French Cultural Center in Budapest, Hungary
1997 — “Urban Art Gaze,” La Forge Gallery, Paris, France
2010 — “Fragments of Childhood,” Mix'O Media Gallery, Mons, Belgium
2012 — “Art is Love,” Friche et Nous La Paix Urban Art Gallery, Paris, France
2013 — “Spray Can Awards,” Le Son'Art Gallery, Paris, France
2016 — “Dark Pop,” La Body Factory, Besançon, France
2018 — “Street Art by Women,” Pullman Hotel, Brussels, Belgium
2020 — “Sara Chelou and the Golden Triangle,” Sonia Monti Gallery, Paris, France
2021–2024 — Exclusive collaboration with L'Atelier Urbain gallery, Paris, France
2023 — “Grand Open Sara Chelou,” Zen Gallery, Cheongju-si, South Korea
2025 — “Women Are Stars,” L'Échomusée Gallery, Paris, France

Group exhibitions

1992 — “Art and Life,” Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines City Hall, France
1993 — “The Art Supermarket,” Roizen Gallery, Paris, France
1998 — Arts Festival, Espace des Blancs-Manteaux, Paris, France
2007 — “Art Bic,” L'Art de Rien Gallery, Paris, France
2010 — Urban Art Exhibition, Muséart in Nice, France
2011 — “Street Art in the City,” Art for Smile Gallery, Paris, France
2012 — Art and Graffiti Exhibition, Puteaux City Hall, France
2012 — “The New Old School,” L'Improbable Gallery, Paris, France
2013 — “Featurings,” Friche et Nous La Paix Urban Art Gallery, curated by Sara Chelou, featuring artist Epsylon Point, among others, Paris, France
2013 — Exhibition about breast cancer, Space Junk Gallery, Lyon, France
2014 — “Tétris,” Nunc Gallery, Paris, France
2014 — Exhibition on the Free Figuration movement, Galerie Dufay Bonnet, Paris, France, with Bazooka and other figures from the Free Figuration movement, Mesnager, Speedy Graffito, and photographer Pierre Terrasson
2014 — “Rue Stick,” Puteaux Town Hall, France
2014–2018 — “Open Walls,” Le Lav'oMatik Urban Art Gallery, Paris, France
2015 — “Superheroes,” Goscinny Cultural Center, Paris, France
2015 — “Stroke: The Heart in Question,” Chelles Cultural Center, France
2015 — “Around Star Wars,” Galerie La Bohème, Deauville, France
2015 — Exhibition marking the release of Street Cats by street art photographer Pierre Michel, Galerie L'Électron Libre Rivoli, Paris, France
2016 — “The Mariannes,” Galerie Art Bref, Paris, France
2016–2026 — Collaboration and permanent exhibition with Galerie Art Génération, Brussels (Belgium), Lyon and Paris (France)
2017 — Exhibition at ISBA, École des Beaux-Arts de Besançon, France
2017 — Urban Art Fair, Luxembourg
2018–2024 — Collaboration and permanent exhibition with Galerie L'Œil Ouvert, France
2019–2020 — Collaboration with Galerie Guy Pensa, Lille, France
2023 — “To the Arts, Citizens,” Galerie Lithium, Paris, France
2024–2025 — Collaboration and permanent exhibition with Graffiti Compagnie, La Baule, France
2026 — “Funny Beasts,” Galerie La Maison des Arts, Paris, France

Urban art

Sara Chelou began painting murals in 1991 at the Couvent des Récollets, alongside other urban artists. These murals helped save this historic 17th-century building^e century, as part of an international community project. Today, the Couvent des Récollets houses the Maison de l’architecture, the Order of Architects, and an international artists’ community—the project led by the artists’ association “Les Anges des Récollets,” co-founded by Sara Chelou.

Urban artists who took part in this project and its rescue include Blek le Rat, Mode2, Chuck One, Jean Faucheur, Jean-Paul Chambas, Boisrond, Mesnager, Thibaud Grand, Marlène, Paella, Alain Cadillac, and Sara Chelou.

Since then, Sara Chelou has created numerous interventions, collages, and murals, independently or with collectives, associations, and private and public organizations, asserting her art in the urban landscape.

2012–2018 — Founded the urban art collective “Walls and Rights,” which tackles social issues through collages on city walls: the fight against AIDS in collaboration with Act Up, equal rights for gay and straight people, the fight against evictions… The collective was active for several years in the Île-de-France region.
2012 — Mural commissioned by Emmaüs at its site in Neuilly-sur-Seine, France
2014 — Mural on the theme of childhood, rue Françoise-Dolto, Paris, France
2015 — “The Wall of Love” mural, rue Alibert, commissioned by an association in the 10th arrondissement of Paris^e Paris arrondissement, following the Bataclan and terrace attacks
2016 — “Love 4 All” mural for La Mutinerie café, in support of LGBT rights, Paris, France
2016 — Live mural in front of Beaubourg for the International Day Against Homophobia, Lesbophobia and Transphobia, at the invitation of the AIDES and FIERES associations, Paris, France
2016 — “Street Art Without Borders,” collages of painted posters in California (United States) and São Paulo (Brazil)
2017 — Organized the group street art exhibition “Paris protège l'amour” on the fight against AIDS, in collaboration with Paris City Hall and Act Up, Espace des Blancs-Manteaux, Paris, France
2018 — Feminist mural depicting Olympe de Gouges, rue Olympe-de-Gouges, commissioned by Ivry City Hall and created live at the opening, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
2018 — Live mural on the theme of health and HIV status, for World AIDS Day, commissioned by the AIDES association and at the invitation of Montreuil City Hall. Created live in the town hall square and acquired by the city, it is displayed in various health centers in Montreuil.
2018 — “Place des Justes” mural, commissioned by Ivry City Hall for the opening of a group of homes with facilitated homeownership, Ivry-sur-Seine, France
2020 — “Ehpad Project”: creation of 20 murals in protected units 1 and 2 of the Hector-Berlioz nursing home, under the direction of the ARS, Bobigny, France
2021 — Collages of painted posters in Berlin, Germany
2021 — Partnership with the Tignous Center for Contemporary Art in Montreuil: painting the Théâtre de Verdure caravans for the restoration of the Peach Walls, Montreuil, France
2024 — Murals and contemporary installation in a disused former town hall, as part of “La Promenade artistique de Molineuf,” Blois, France
2024 — “Art Is Love” mural, Le Pouliguen, France, commissioned by Graffiti Compagnie
2025 — Decorative mural for the play The Vagina Monologues, directed by Aurore Auteuil, performed at the Théâtre Marigny from December 2025 to February 2026, Paris, France

Auctions

Since 1990, Sara Chelou has taken part in exceptional auctions that have enabled her to develop her career in the contemporary art market.

1990 — “Urban Art, Sacred Art” sale, auctioneer Pierre Cornette de Saint Cyr, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, France
2017 — Urban art auction, Vermot et Associés auction house, Hôtel Drouot, Paris, France
2018–2026 — Urban art auctions on Drouot Digital with auction houses MDP Auction and Lux Auction, alongside Banksy, Richard Orlinski, Man Ray, KAWS, Hom Nguyen, Murakami, Futura 2000, Quik, Obey, Jeff Koons, Karl Lagasse, Keith Haring, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Picasso, Jean Cocteau, JonOne, Mr Brainwash, Nasty, Cope2, Robert Combas, Yayoi Kusama, Fontana, and many others
2022 — Urban art auction, Actéon – Compiègne Enchères, Compiègne, France

Press

Sara Chelou's work has been featured in numerous magazines and books.

2012 — Area Revue, “What Does It Mean to Be an Artist?,” interview
2013 — Clara Magazine, “My Body Is No One's Honor,” interview
2014 — Le Bonbon, “Sara Chelou Exhibits,” article
2015 — L'Artmateur, “Street Art by Women,” article
2016 — The New York Times, “The Wall of Love,” feature
2016–2019 — Street Art Mag, features and interviews
2021 — C de l'Art, article about Sara Chelou
2021 — Kazoart, “10 Artists to Watch in 2021,” article
2022 — Singulart, “5 Minutes with Sara Chelou,” article
2023 — Urban Arts Magazine, “An Interview with Sara Chelou: Memories of the Underground,” interview

Books

Charlie or the Memory of the Walls, Omniscience publishing, 2015
My Mug by My Friends, Omniscience publishing, 2015
Street Cats, Omniscience publishing, 2015
Street Art Paris, Claude Degoutte, Omniscience publishing, 2016
Street Dogs, Claude Degoutte, Omniscience publishing, 2017
Street Art Paris 2, Claude Degoutte, Omniscience publishing, 2018

Public Acquisitions

As a natural development of her work, several works by Sara Chelou have been acquired by public institutions, ensuring their recognition and longevity.

1995 — The City, the People (acrylic on canvas), Budapest Cultural Center, Hungary
2016 — Democracy, the Public Thing (acrylic on canvas), Carnavalet Museum, Paris, France
2016 — No History Without Them (acrylic on canvas), Champigny-sur-Marne City Hall, France
2018 — Square of the Righteous (acrylic on canvas), Ivry-sur-Seine City Hall, France
2019 — A World Without AIDS? (acrylic on canvas), Montreuil City Hall, France
2021 — Les Maïkos (inkjet print on Hahnemühle fine art paper), François-Mitterrand Media Library, Paris, France
2025 — Paris Love Music, a street art collage created at the sites of the 2015 attacks: its photograph has joined the City of Paris’s digitized archives, under “Memory of the Attacks,” alongside a selection of drawings from Charlie Hebdo, France

Public commissions

Hungarian Ministry of Culture
Paris City Hall
Ivry-sur-Seine Town Hall
Montreuil Town Hall
Champigny-sur-Marne Town Hall
Regional Health Agency (works in Bobigny and Fontenay-sous-Bois)
François-Mitterrand Media Library

Films

Sara Chelou has had the opportunity to present her work in several films and videos.

2013 — Filmed performance by Sara Chelou at Nunc Gallery
2014 — Interview for “The Artist’s Head”
2016 — Participation in the film A World Without AIDS? (interview and artworks), initiated by the AIDES association
2016 — Kiki Picasso films Sara Chelou at the Cirque Électrique
2017 — Art and Society project with UNESCO: production of the film Memory of the Future
2018 — “Sara Chelou, street artist and painter,” interview by Art Génération Gallery
2022 — Interview with Sara Chelou in her studio

Workshops and sharing knowledge

Throughout her career, Sara Chelou has shared her techniques and love of art in various workshops, reaching a diverse audience of all ages with a fun, hands-on introduction, particularly to street art.

2016 — Art and feminism workshop: introduction to street art for young women from local neighborhoods, Champigny-sur-Marne Town Hall
2018 — Introductory stencil workshops, young workers’ residence, Paris 13^e
2020 — Street art workshops at the Hector-Berlioz nursing home in Bobigny, at the request of the ARS
2021 — Introductory street art team-building workshop for railway executives working on the future Metro line 16, Paris
2022 — Urban art workshops for artists, Wawi Gallery, Paris
2024 — Introductory street art workshop for the “100 works for a nursing home gallery” project, in collaboration with the ARS, Camille-Saint-Saëns nursing home, Aulnay-sous-Bois

Distribution and collectors

Since September 2025, Sara Chelou’s limited-edition works have been available at affordable prices in all Conforama stores in France.

Her works are collected around the world, reflecting ever-renewed enthusiasm: United Arab Emirates, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Russia, Spain, Switzerland and the United States.

See more + See less -