The Art Evolution of JR

The French street artist from graffiti tagging to the big screen.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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The semi-anonymous French artist JR is a lithe, fedora-topped presence in more than just art. He dances through the worlds of social activism, community engagement, political process, and fine-art photography with what seems like a deft, imperceptible ease. The public works of the self-coined “photograffeur” (part photographer, part graffiti artist) speak to art as action, where the formation of the piece means as much to his world as the final product of the piece itself. And now, as one of the world’s preeminent artists working truly in and with the public sphere, JR seems to have found his niche. But it was a series of events, some entirely happenstance, that led the artist to this position as our favorite art-activist. The French street artist started tagging the streets of Paris in the late '90s, and has since risen to international fame with his large-scale photos pasted across the globe, his "Inside Out" project. On Friday, JR is headed to London for a two-part solo show at Lazarides Rathbone Gallery called "JR: ACTIONS." The show includes an "Inside Out" installation where locals can decorate the city with their faces. In anticipation of his upcoming show, here is The Art Evolution of JR.

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Brace Your Nerves

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Start Snapping

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Public Presentation

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Large-Scale Stick-Ups

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The 28mm Lens

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Institutionalized

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Both Sides of the Wall

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Ironing out Metropolis

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Recognizing the Victimized

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Years: 2008 - 2010
Notable works: "Women are Heroes"

Moving even further into art activism, JR sought out women around the world who had come close to death in some way, interacting with the communities there by interviewing his subjects and getting to know their communities. It's a project that took him to six countries on three continents—the favelas of Rio and the slums of Kenya and India. JR pasted the women's eyes in on building fronts and rooftops in striking prolificacy and large scale. "In order to pay tribute to those who play an essential role in society," reads JR's website, "but who are the primary victims of war, crime, rape and political or religious fanaticism, JR pasted huge photos of the faces and eyes of local women."

Thinking Even Farther Out of the Box

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Changing the World

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Years: 2011
Notable works: TED Prize

This was the year JR's work was vastly exposed to the mainstream even more than presenting it in a public context even had. In October 2010, the Technology, Entertainment, and Design conferences decided JR's ideas were worth spreading, and the conference committee awarded him their annual award in the early months of 2011. Though he missed out on the 2013 prize money increase to $1 million, JR was awarded $100,000 to help accomplish his wish for the world. He also gave one of the most illuminating and inspiring TED talks of all time.

Flipping the Script

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The Moving Image

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