JR

About JR

Giant black and white faces pasted on the streets of the world

JR is a French street artist and photographer known for his large-scale public installations.

“JR has the largest art gallery in the world. Thanks to his photographic collage technique, he exhibits his work free of charge on the walls of the whole world attracting the attention of those who do not usually go to museums.”

He began his career in the early 2000s, pasting monumental black-and-white portraits on buildings in Paris. He has since created projects in over 40 countries. His work often features anonymous subjects, challenging viewers to confront the humanity of those depicted. He received the TED Prize in 2011 and created Inside Out, an international participatory art project. He co-directed the documentary “Faces Places” with Agnès Varda, which was nominated for an Academy Award.

JR at a glance

Born: February 22, 1983, Paris, France
Nationality: French
Known for: Giant black and white portraits pasted on buildings and in public spaces
Medium: Street art and photography
Based in: Paris and New York
Notable works: Inside Out Project, Faces Places (2017, with Agnès Varda)
Award: TED Prize, 2011
Website: jr-art.net

Born in Paris in 1983.
Started as a graffiti artist in the early 2000s.
Known for monumental black-and-white portraits.
Received the TED Prize in 2011.
Co-directed “Faces Places” with Agnès Varda.

His work has appeared at the Louvre, where he made the pyramid disappear with an anamorphosis. He also created installations for the Rio Olympic Games in 2016.

His art humanizes urban landscapes, transforming city spaces into stages for human stories.

His work is represented by Perrotin, PACE Gallery, Galleria Continua, and Nara Roesler.

“By stripping away individual identities, he invites viewers to project their own narratives onto the faces in his works. This intentional anonymity contributes to the universality of his art.”