PARIS · the French street artist YZ closed her exhibition at the distinguished Centre Pompidou early last week. this experimental project entitled ‘La Nymphe au coquillage’, was technically not inside the museum, but on the grounds outside the Pompidou. 

the ephemeral installation was the image of a classical female form placed directly onto the public stone walkway. through this unconventional placement, the piece emphasized the link between the venue and the audience.

YZ began her journey as an artist on the streets. she filled the walls of Europe with pasteups and paintings with kraft ink on silk paper. in 2003 she received international acclaim with her project 'Open Your Eyes'. 

after establishing herself with her iconic piece, she moved into another direction by producing pieces with a more classical flair. through the integration of fine arts with street culture, YZ's work stands out among conventional artists. she is merging two extremes to produce something that is both beautiful and stimulating.

a few months ago, YZ had a showcase at the KUNSTHALLE. for her installation entitled "the house of ladybird", YZ collected a series of random items including a birdcage, a dressform, a suitcase, and a pair of shoes and then she painted everything white to create a sort of canvas. she then projected an image of an angel directly onto her multidimensional canvas and began painting.

the final product was captivating and inspiring in a classical sense, a feeling that is devoid in works from typical street art. her exhibition at the Pompidou demonstrates her accomplishments as well as highlights her journey as an artist. 

YZ both embraces her urban roots and strives to excel as an artist. with every stroke of her paintbrush, YZ continues to merge extremes and confront the definition of what a street artist is.