Breaking da classics

John Andrew Perello, alias JonOne, is a painter and graffiti artist born in 1963 in New York. It is at the age of 17 that he begins to be interested in graffiti with White Man, his childhood friend. JonOne even founded a group of artists called "156 All Starz", together with Rac7 and Kyle. They were active in the New York subway in the early 1980s.

At the same time, Jean-Michel Basquiat left his mark all over the streets of New York by scattering his SAMO (Same Old Shit). JonOne quickly made a name for himself on the street by creating abstract works influenced by the color, movement and energy of the city. His style was unique since at that time graffiti artists worked in more figurative aesthetic registers.

JonOne is therefore an artist who stands out from other American artists of his time. In 1987, JonOne settles permanently to Paris to follow a friend named Bando. He quickly discovers that this city has become his "new home". In Paris, he feels inspired and can create freely.

In Paris, JonOne joins the association "Usines Éphémères" which has taken up residence in the abandoned premises of the Bretonneau hospital in the 18th arrondissement of Paris. From 1983 and for about 5 years, painters, singers, visual artists, photographers and musicians met in this creative place. Besides JonOne, this ephemeral hospital saw more than 2000 artists pass through. Among them, the musical groups FFF and Human Spirit Pro-Zak, Jean-Louis Aubert, Axel Bauer, Thomas Hirschhorn, Huang Yong Ping, Philippe Mayaux, Michel Blazy, Jean Luc Verna, Ghada Amer, Eric Maillet, Daniel Spoerri, Julio Villani, Claude Closky...

It was also in Paris that the artist discovered a new medium that would revolutionize his art: the canvas. In his graffiti paintings, he uses all the spaces, the voids do not exist. Color is vital for JonOne, his canvases are abstract improvisations that bring us joy of life.

JonOne quickly made a name for himself in the Parisian artistic community. Today, many companies call upon the artist for collaborations, we can quote in particular : Leclerc, Lacoste, Guerlain, Daum, Perrier, Thalys, Agnès B, Air France, Tumi...

Fashion designer Agnès B. was one of his first patrons when he arrived in France. Since 2011, the artist is one of the ambassadors of the Abbé Pierre Foundation.

JonOne has exhibited all over the world: in Seoul, Miami, Monaco, Paris, Geneva, New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Brussels, London, Abidjan and Moscow.

A quote from the artist sums up his art and personality: "Painting opens me up to myself, it allows me to enter into communication with who I am".