JR (born 1983 in Paris) is a globally acclaimed French artist who merges photography, street art, and social engagement. He first gained attention with Portrait of a Generation, a series of monumental black-and-white portraits pasted in the suburbs of Paris to challenge stereotypes and bring marginalized communities into public view. His practice evolved into ambitious, collaborative projects around the world, most notably the Inside Out Project, a global participatory art initiative that empowers individuals to share their image and message publicly. JR’s work blurs the boundaries between art and activism, often transforming buildings, trains, and urban landscapes into platforms for collective expression.

He has exhibited at institutions such as the Centre Pompidou, the Tate Modern, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the Louvre, where he famously created a large-scale optical illusion on the museum’s glass pyramid.