Presently, JonOne (b. 1963, New York) stands at the forefront of the urban contemporary art movement. His work has influenced a generation of both graffiti and contemporary artists, having built an impressive oeuvre in the past 30 years. His story begins in Harlem, New York in the 1980s, where as a youth he faced the struggles of finding an outlet for his artistic drive. Seeking freedom and self-expression, he began painting on the streets and on train cars. His current aesthetic can be traced back to this visual foundation of his childhood – the blurred images and colors from graffiti flashing before his eyes as the trains moved past. He was always different, bringing paint brushes instead of spray cans to tag the streets. When he was only 20 years old, he moved to Paris, a place that accepted him artistically and allowed him to develop his graffiti roots in a community that welcomed the proverbial outsider. Establishing his life in France, he has since evolved his career and reputation for the past three decades with a unique style, unparalleled in his genre.
JonOne has worked on a number of collaborations and projects in recent years, lending original designs of his style to notable companies, such as Perrier, Air France, Lacoste, Guerlain, Hennessy, and LG. He has also exhibited at several important galleries and institutions, including the Fondation Cartier for Contemporary Art and the Grand Palais in Paris. In 2015, he was given the Legion of Honor from France, celebrating the achievement with a painting "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité" which was unveiled at the Palais Bourbon, the seat of the French National Assembly.
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