JonOne (born John Andrew Perello, 1963), also known as Jon156, is an American graffiti artist. Originally from New York, he lives and works in Paris.
Early life and upbringing
JonOne was born in New York's Harlem neighborhood to parents from the Dominican Republic. Growing up in Harlem, his introduction to street art began when he would see graffiti and tags on subway cars and city walls. When he was 17 years old he entered the world of graffiti with his childhood friend "White Man," tagging his name Jon with the numbers 156 on walls and trains in his neighborhood. JonOne said, "The subway is a museum that runs through the city."
In 1984, JonOne founded the graffiti group , in order to bring together their passion for painting trains at night and to help forget about their problems, including drug use. At this time, he met the artist Bando, who was living in New York. Following an invitation from Bando, JonOne moved to Paris in 1987.
Career
JonOne began his work as a painter on canvas in a workshop at the Hospital Ephemeral, a literal hospital building that became a squatting place for artists, located in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. Here, he painted with the artists A-One, Sharp, Ash (Victor Ash), Jayone and Skki.
JonOne made a name for himself in Parisian artistic circles through his work on canvas and the exhibitions he held, including one in 1990 at Gallery 45 Gleditsch in Berlin and the exhibition Graffiti Paris, at rue Chapon in Paris.
At an Artcurial auction on June 6, 2007, Match Point, a large canvas by JonOne made at the Hospital Ephemeral in 1993, was bought by a New York collector for €24,800, a record sale for the artist. This auction was also the highest bid ever obtained in France for a work of graffiti art. Since 2013 JonOne enriched its creation by collaborating with Didier Marien from the Boccara Gallery on an important series of street art rugs.
Quotes
"The way I am able to maintain my sanity and protect myself is through my art. And the process of painting has always been something that I enjoy doing, and that, nobody can take away from me. I protect that joy I have from painting."
– JonOne, In an interview with The Trops
Exhibitions
SOLO
2023
17 Mars 2023 – 16 Juin 2023 – Rosewood – Thai Love – Exposition personnelle – Bangkok, Thailand
2021
21 Mars 2021 – 24 Mai 2021 – Rasson Art Gallery – Exposition personnelle – Knokke, Belgique 2020
2020
26 novembre 2020 – 23 Janvier 2021 – Galerie Provost-Hacker – Exposition personnelle – Lille, France
12 novembre 2020 – 22 Novembre 2020 – ArtTime – Exposition personnelle – Dakar, Sénégal, Afrique
9 octobre 2020 – 25 octobre 2020 – Les Docks X Galerie David Pluskwa – Unlimited – Exposition personnelle – Marseille, France
1er octobre 2020 – 17 octobre 2020 – Galerie Veyssière Sigma – Jonone – Exposition personnelle – Tours, France
24 septembre 2020 – 24 octobre 2020 – Galerie Rive Gauche – Marcel Strouk – Journal Intime – Exposition personnelle – Paris, France
14 septembre 2020 – 19 septembre 2020 – Kolly Gallery – Wedding Planners – Exposition personnelle – Zürich, Suisse
10 septembre 2020 – 24 octobre 2020 – Underdogs Gallery – The Border – Exposition personnelle – Lisbonne, Portugal
10 septembre 2020 – 13 septembre 2020 – Art Paris – Galery Rabouan Moussion – Exposition collective – Paris, France
23 mai 2020 – 31 juillet 2020 – Galerie Rabouan Moussion – Infinity – Exposition personnelle – Paris, France
11 mars 2020 – 23 Janvier 2021– Institut Culturel Bernard Magrez – Free Spirit – Exposition personnelle – Bordeaux, France
4 mars 2020 – 8 mars 2020 – Galerie Provost-Hacker – Exposition collective – Lille, France
21 février 2020 – 21 mars 2020 – ArtTime – Retour A La Source – Exposition personnelle – Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Afrique
2019
16 décembre 2019 – 21 décembre 2019 – Kolly Gallery – Countdown – Exposition personnelle – Zürich, Suisse
3 décembre 2019 – 8 décembre 2019 – Fabien Castanier Gallery – Exposition collective – Miami Art Basel – Miami, Etats-Unis
26 novembre 2019 – 1er février 2020 – Fabien Castanier Gallery – Colors Of The Uprising – Exposition personnelle – Miami, Etats-Unis
15 novembre 2019 – 17 novembre 2019 – Galerie Provost-Hacker – Art Fair – ST Art – Exposition collective – Strasbourg, France
4 octobre 2019 – 02 novembre 2019 – Galerie Rabouan Moussion –Exposition collective – Paris, France
25 septembre 2019 – 17 octobre 2019 – Not A Gallery – Exposition personnelle – Paris, France