JR

Two letters summarize the 21st century photography that is J.R. The two letters cover walls around the world, from the Favelas of Brazil, to the Upper East Side of New York. They're only two letters, but they carry a lot of meaning in the art world: J.R.

J.R., short for his full name Jean-René, is a young photographer who was born in Paris in 1983. J.R. has created many street art projects, all of them monumental, whether through their meaning or their size.

In the beginning, JR entered the world of street art through graffiti, but in 2001 he found a camera in the Paris subway and immediately started taking pictures. Everything that surrounded him became a source of inspiration.

J.R's distinctive artistic touch lies in his creative process, gigantic photo collages depicting individuals in black and white. They're impressive in size and in technique. To create his wall projects, J.R. surrounds himself with a team of 15 specialists, from visual artist to performers.

His predilection for large format can not be explained only by an aesthetic choice, it is also a way for the artist to draw attention. This way everyone can see it, there is no need to go to the museum to be surrounded by works of art. In order to appeal to public emotions, J.R. uses his audience as the principal part of his works. JR's portraits are not without foundation, they approach current societal issues and reflections about our identity, a recurrent subject in his portfolio.

In 2008, J.R. created an awe-inspiring piece at Brazilian favelas, entitled "28 Millimeters, Women Are Heroes", where he pasted huge photos of the faces and eyes of local women all over the outside of the favela, covering whole blocks of houses with striking portraits. A year before, the photographer had already made a splash with "Face 2 Face" where portraits of Palestinians and Israelis were pasted face to face on the dividing wall between the two cities in conflict.

In recent years, JR turned his attention to the Pantheon and the Louvre. In 2014, he dressed the Pantheon with portraits of passersby, continuing his artistic lineage with a hint of demagogy. In 2016, JR wowed viewers with his finest trick, making the Louvre pyramid disappear, and opening our eyes to an exciting future of street art.

In 2022, J.R. turned his attention to the issue of migrant children across the globe. He created 45-meter tall portraits spread throughout communities most impacted by the issue. The artist will surely pick a relevant and important issue for his next project.