JR

Have you ever seen a billboard or advertisement in the street that makes you stop and think? That moment of pause in daily life is exactly what artist JR aims to do – his work encourages us to reflect and re-consider the world in which we live. 

When it comes to social change, JR is a first responder. From the streets of Paris and the favelas of Brazil to maximum security prisons and the halls of prestigious museums, JR transcends boundaries to challenge perceptions and spark conversations. The French-born photographer, filmmaker, and proclaimed “urban artivist” is known for his community-based projects that combines Street Art and Activism.

His career as an artist began when he found a camera in the Paris Metro. JR’s first project, titled “Portrait of a Generation,” consisted of large-scale, newspaper-like portraits of residents from Paris’ low-income neighbourhoods pasted in the city’s most affluent areas. This confronting contrast of socio-economic lifestyles captured the public’s attention and pushed JR into the spotlight. 

Through his unique lens, JR invites us to reconsider our perceptions of the world and our place within it. He inspires us to embrace creativity, empathy, and activism in our own lives, reminding us that change begins with a single idea, a single image, a single moment in our steps.