Origins
JR, born Jean René on February 22, 1983 in Paris, France, grew up in the Paris suburbs. As a teenager, he was passionate about graffiti, tagging under the name “Face 3” before adopting his initials “JR”[5][1][3].
Current situation
JR is now internationally acclaimed for his monumental photographic installations in public spaces. He exhibits freely in the streets, on facades and buildings, transforming cities into open-air galleries[6][8].
Place of residence
JR mainly resides in Paris, but travels extensively for his global art projects[2][9].
Graphic style and mediums
His style is defined by the “photograffeur” technique, blending photography, collage, graffiti, and installation. He creates large-scale black-and-white portraits, pasted onto walls, bridges, or monuments. His works address social themes such as identity, freedom, collective memory, and civic engagement[5][7][3].
Exhibition list
- “Portraits of a Generation” (2004-2006, Paris)
- “Women are Heroes” (2008-2011, worldwide)
- “The Wrinkles of the City” (2010-2015, Shanghai, Los Angeles, Havana...)
- “Inside Out Project” (since 2011, international)
- Installation for Rio Olympics (2016)
- Exhibition at Urban Nation Museum, Berlin (2017)
Web article links