JR, who was born in the suburbs of Paris in 1983, is a French photographer and street artist who is known worldwide for his monumental black and white portraits in public spaces. His artistic career began at the age of 14 as a graffiti sprayer under the name „Face 3“. A decisive turning point was the discovery of a forgotten camera in the Paris underground at the age of 17. From then on, he documented the street art scene and began to post his photographs in large format on outdoor walls, establishing himself as his own curator.

JR uses these monumental posters, also known as „pastings“, on the fronts of buildings, trains, container ships or border walls to give visibility to people whose rights or dignity are often ignored. With socially critical projects such as „Portrait of a Generation“ (2005), he responded to unrest in the Parisian suburbs, while with „Face 2 Face“ (2007), he directly juxtaposed portraits of Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East conflict. In his worldwide series „Women Are Heroes“, he drew attention to the central role of women in societies from Kenya to Brazil.

Participation is a central pillar of his work. With the global project „Inside Out“, launched in 2011, he created a platform on which people around the world can submit their own portraits and post them as a sign of social concern in their own community. In addition to his „Giants“ installations, which are enthroned on huge scaffolding - such as his impressive collage at the Brandenburg Gate - JR is also successful in the film industry. His documentary film „Augenblicke“ (Visages Villages) was nominated for an Oscar in 2018. His works challenge the viewer to tear down social walls in their minds and look at the world through the eyes of others.