JR was born in France in 1983 and is the pseudonym of photographer and street artist Jean-René. Rising to prominence in the early 2000’s, JR has since gained international success for his monumental photographic collages that have transformed everyday urban spaces into public art galleries.
JR was born in France in 1983 and is the pseudonym of photographer and street artist Jean-René. Rising to prominence in the early 2000’s, JR has since gained international success for his monumental photographic collages that have transformed everyday urban spaces into public art galleries.
In 2001, he started photography and decided to travel across Europe to meet the artists who expressed themselves in the street. Between 2004 and 2006, he produced his first series of collages, entitled “Portraits d’une génération”, portraying the inhabitants of the Bosquets housing projects.
JR combines powerful social statements through large portraits and murals. In 2011, he won the TED Prize for his phenomenal work done worldwide.
