"Untold Stories" Exhibition by DUO
An immersive journey into 25 years of graffiti culture...
"Untold Stories" Exhibition — DUO
Empreinte Galerie is delighted to welcome the artist DUO for an exceptional exhibition entitled "Untold Stories."
Opening dates - Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 July: 2:30pm-7:30pm - Saturday 1 & Sunday 2 August: 2:30pm-7:30pm
Empreinte Galerie – 2 rue d'Alibert, Orléans - In the presence of the artist - Sale & signing of the book #orleansbynames – 25 years of graffiti in Orléans
DUO, a self-taught Parisian artist born in 1981, discovered graffiti in 1991 when he came across a piece by DARCO (FBI) in his neighbourhood. A genuine visual shock that sealed his calling: his tag would be DUO, and his path that of graffiti, still considered vandalism at the time.
From 1998, he fully immersed himself in the world of writing, intensively exploring lettering and developing a personal practice nourished by more than twenty years of research. His work is rooted in the purest tradition of graffiti, in constant dialogue with the codes of New York and European pioneers.
A tireless traveller, DUO paints across Europe and beyond, on walls, trains and transport networks. These experiences have shaped a rigorous, energetic style, deeply rooted in the classic aesthetics of graffiti, influenced in particular by the New York and Berlin scenes.
His works entered the art market in the early 2010s. In 2013, his first sale at Pierre Bergé & Associés confirmed collectors' growing interest in his work.
Today, DUO develops a more experimental practice on canvas, oriented towards abstraction, while retaining the gestural intensity and search for movement that characterise his urban interventions. His painting becomes more introspective, transforming the raw energy of graffiti into a contemporary visual language.
#orleansbynames – 25 years of graffiti in Orléans
After years of practice, DUO undertook meticulous investigative work: for four years, he collected film photographs, personal archives and anonymous testimonies to retrace the history of graffiti in Orléans. This work gave rise to the book #orleansbynames, a true record of a movement, available for sale and signing during the exhibition.
An exhibition not to be missed
"Untold Stories" is a deep dive into the world of a major contemporary graffiti artist, between heritage, abstraction and collective memory. A rare opportunity to meet DUO, discover his works and explore 25 years of urban culture in Orléans.