18Gallery : special launch featuring an exhibition from JonOne // People // Added 2009/07/09 at 11:24
Of Dominican extraction, JonOne was born in Harlem (New York) in 1963. He started being active on the graffiti scene at 17 thanks to his childhood buddy, White Man, when they tagged walls and trains in his neighborhood and then the entire city.
In 1987, he settled in Paris and started his activity as a canvas painter in a workshop at the Atelier Ephemèree along with Aone, Sharp and Ash, without giving up graffiti. Soon enough, he became famous on the Paris fashion scene. In 1990, his art was exhibited at the Gallery Glebisch 45 (Berlin). Since then, he’s exhibited all around the world: Tokyo, Monaco, Paris, New York, Hong Kong or Brussels.
“I never got an artistic education. When I tagged trains in New York, I never imagined I would one day become a canvas painter.”
What led me to tags was seeing others painting graffiti all around the city. I went to a very strict school… It was so boring! I remember I felt at the time that guys in the street were those who were free. I didn’t want what America offered me: a nice work, a nice suit and a nice house.
I got to meet A-One (Anthony Clark 1964-2001). He used to hang out with Jean-Michel Basquiat (Brooklyn, New York, December 22nd 1960 – August 12th 1988). A-one was the link between the street and the world of arts. He traveled to Europe and came back with loads of money thanks to his art. I’d listen to him tell me about his trips, and my eyes shined with envy.
At that time in NY, I was just like many others: I’d hang out in front of my building. I’d stick to my neighborhood. Thanks to A-One, I started visiting exhibitions and developing my vision of the world. I started taking my work seriously, not considering it as vandalism but as true art."
Next exhibitions :
- From July 4th to 31st 2009: Galerie Magda Danysz / Solo show, Paris
- From September 10th to October 10th 2009 : Speerstra Gallery / "New Works" Geneva, Switzerland
Discover his work here !
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