3 artists from the Calais Street-Art Festival 2026
For the 6th edition of the Calais Street Art Festival, the city's walls are transformed by new artistic worlds, giving the public space a new lease on life. We met with Shozy, Vinie, and Rémi Tournier, three artists with unique backgrounds and sensibilities, to discover their approach, their inspirations, and the works they create in Calais.
International artist: Shozy from Russia
'I like to show people another way of looking at the world'
Mural artist originally from Moscow, Shozy is internationally recognized for his monumental trompe-l'œil murals. Through his works, he plays with the lines of buildings, volumes and optical illusions to offer a new interpretation of urban space.
How did this world of trompe-l'œil come about?
I work primarily with architecture. I enjoy transforming buildings, evolving a physical form into something more abstract. My goal is to show people a different perspective on their surroundings and the world around them. I like to create surprise, alter their perception of a familiar place, and inspire them to look at things differently.
You are known for creating huge murals. Why such large formats?
Street art is first and foremost a public art form, intended for everyone, including those who aren't necessarily interested in art. A large mural can attract attention and perhaps show that there are other ways of seeing our environment. I also like large formats because they are more powerful and more impressive. For me, the wall is the most natural medium: unlike a canvas, which is created to accommodate a work of art, a wall already exists. It's part of a place's history, and we need to engage with it.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao 
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao How did you envision your mural created at the Coubertin high school in Calais?
I extended the existing windows to create an impossible shape, as if the building were transforming before the viewer's eyes. The mural depicts a large opening at the top of the facade, pierced by an abstract pink form. This form emerged directly from the building's architectural lines: initially, it was simply a grid between several panels. Gradually, it transformed into an abstract creation. Everything began with the building's existing form.
What effect do you hope to have on the residents and visitors who will discover this work?
I prefer to let everyone form their own interpretation. Everyone can see something different, and that's what makes art interesting. I simply hope that this mural will bring positive emotion and a smile to those who discover it.
Vinie's poetic and colorful universe
'My character allows me to tell stories and create a connection with the locals'
Vinie, a French artist originally from Toulouse, develops a colorful and poetic universe inspired by graffiti culture. Her female character, which has become her signature, appears on city walls to convey positive messages and create a connection with the inhabitants.
Your female character has become your signature. What story does she tell?
This character was born when I arrived in Paris. Before, I mainly painted for the graffiti community, but I wanted to reach a wider audience: children, residents, passersby. She allows me to tell stories and create a connection with people who discover my work. Because she isn't realistic, she's universal: she can be a child, an adult, or an elderly person. Everyone can see themselves in her.
Your world blends colors, poetry, and imagination. Where do you draw your inspiration from?
I draw a lot of inspiration from the place where I paint: its history, its architecture, its neighborhood, and the people who live there. Interactions with the residents, especially the children, also greatly enrich my work. They can give me ideas, suggest words to incorporate into the character's hair, or simply share their perspective on the mural. For Calais, the environment was a major guide. The wall is located near a playground, and I wanted to bring color to this neighborhood while creating a piece that would speak to children.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao How did you envision your mural on Rue Edgar Quinet in Calais?
I chose to depict a little girl offering a flower to the residents. Since there are many children in this neighborhood, I wanted to create a character who could engage in a dialogue with them. This mural also carries a message that is particularly important to me: to show that women have their rightful place in artistic professions and in public spaces.
When people see me working on a platform, many still expect to see a man. I like the idea that young women can think, "I can do this job too." I've also incorporated some references to Calais, particularly related to lace, to create a connection with the city's identity. Street art creates a special relationship with the locals.
How do you experience these encounters?
This is precisely what makes street art so special: there is a direct exchange with the inhabitants.
Unlike work done in a studio, here people see the mural evolve from beginning to end. They discover the time, precision, and work required to create a monumental work.
In Calais, I received a very warm welcome. Locals came to talk to me, showed me small tokens of appreciation, and the children gave me gifts. In turn, I gave them autographed cards.
These encounters are an integral part of my work: a mural is not just a painting on a wall, it becomes a link between people and a place.
Rémi Tournier: Realism in an urban setting
'I like to create a reading game and paint human stories'
A figurative painter originally from the Southwest of France, Rémi Tournier develops a universe at the crossroads of realistic painting and urban art. A former graffiti artist, he now uses the brush to bring to life simple scenes, full of meaning and emotion.
Your painting is at the crossroads of realism and urban art. How would you define your world?
I am a figurative painter with a fairly realistic style, but I paint with a brush. This allows me greater freedom in my use of color and a different relationship with the surface. With a brush, you touch the texture of the wall directly, which gives the work a more vibrant and raw feel.
Why do you choose to highlight scenes from everyday life?
I work primarily from my own photographs. I enjoy observing my surroundings, noticing the details of everyday life, and highlighting simple things that often go unnoticed. It could be a person, a street scene, or even a composition of objects. But behind every image, there's always a human story to tell. I like to create a playful interpretation: at first glance, you discover an image, then you gradually understand that it carries a message or a deeper reflection.
©Stephane Ribeiro Da Ascencao What role does meeting with local residents play in your work?
Meaning is essential in my work. I like to create pieces that offer food for thought. The title, and then the text accompanying the mural, allow viewers to understand what I wanted to convey. After that, everyone is free to project their own interpretation. For me, mural painting is also a wonderful way to foster dialogue. In Calais, the residents gave me so much. In just a few days, I got to know the people in the neighborhood, their stories, and their habits. It's an ongoing exchange: I bring a piece of art to the residents, but they also give me a deeper understanding of the place and what life is like there. It's this human dimension that makes painting in the street so particularly enriching.
What story does your mural "Choir", created on rue Michel Ange in Calais, tell?
This mural depicts a composition of terracotta pots. The initial idea was to create a connection with the materials found in Calais. Terracotta and brick have contributed to building the city's architectural identity. After the destruction caused by the wars and the subsequent reconstruction using more modern materials, I wanted to bring back this original material in a transformed form.
The title "Choir" also refers to the idea of a whole composed of several elements. Like in a musical choir where several voices create a common harmony, each element of this composition contributes to the final balance.