Explores the history of street artist JR’s work in Brazil, focusing in particular on his Giants series

The photocollages of French artist JR (born 1983) have populated streets and skylines all over the world. But he decided to outdo himself at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio by creating what he called ‘his craziest work ever’: the Giants series. Perched on scaffolding, gigantic athletes leaped over abandoned buildings and swan-dived into the ocean. And, while his Giants were on show, the ‘Inside/Out’ photo booth was zapping out supersized prints of enthusiastic game-goers.

This volume explores the history of JR’s work in Brazil, beginning in 2008 with his work in Rio’s favelas and continuing today at the Casa Amarela, a culture and education centre for kids. Focusing particularly on the Giants series, the book offers insights into how the artist transforms places and spaces by focusing on the daily lives of their inhabitants.

About the Author:

JR is a contemporary French artist. Using his photo collage technique, he has managed to cover the walls of the world with his art, appealing to people who would never usually go to art galleries.

The most comprehensive monograph on the enigmatic French artist – updated to include brand-new work

Filled with stunning photography, this extraordinary monograph charts a range of JR’s collaborative projects executed across the globe.

Created in close collaboration with the artist, it features chapters on each of JR’s major bodies of work – from Expo2Rue, using the street as his canvas to launch his career as an artist, to The Chronicles of Miami, which opened in November 2023. It also includes his collaborations with other artists and institutions such as the New York City Ballet, film director Agnès Varda, and Time magazine.

A foreword by Hollywood legend George Lucas, a specially commissioned graphic novel by comic artist Joseph Remnant, an updated survey essay by Nato Thompson, and a short piece by Italian film director Alice Rohrwacher all come together to tell JR’s fascinating story.

About the Authors:

JR is the enigmatic French artist behind some of the world’s most provocative large-scale public photography projects. His work appears around the world, including recently at the Palais Garnier in Paris.

Joseph Remnant is a Los Angeles-based artist/cartoonist whose comics and illustrations have appeared in Arthur magazine, Juxtapoz, and the New York Times.

Nato Thompson is an author and formerly Chief Curator for Creative Time in New York.

Alice Rohrwacher is an Italian filmmaker, and co-director of short film Omelia Contadina with JR.

George Lucas is a film director, producer and screenwriter, and founder of Lucasfilm.

Carmen Herrera Lawrence is a writer born in New York City with a background in creative nonfiction. She works at JR’s studio, where she manages his communications and supports project production.

Marc Azoulay is a curator, producer, and the Studio Director for the artist JR; he has overseen the creation of numerous public art projects, museum exhibitions, books, apps as well as feature and short films.

The most comprehensive monograph on the enigmatic French artist – updated to include brand-new work

Filled with stunning photography, this extraordinary monograph charts a range of JR’s collaborative projects executed across the globe.

Created in close collaboration with the artist, it features chapters on each of JR’s major bodies of work – from Expo2Rue, using the street as his canvas to launch his career as an artist, to The Chronicles of Miami, which opened in November 2023. It also includes his collaborations with other artists and institutions such as the New York City Ballet, film director Agnès Varda, and Time magazine.

A foreword by Hollywood legend George Lucas, a specially commissioned graphic novel by comic artist Joseph Remnant, an updated survey essay by Nato Thompson, and a short piece by Italian film director Alice Rohrwacher all come together to tell JR’s fascinating story.

About the Authors:

JR is the enigmatic French artist behind some of the world’s most provocative large-scale public photography projects. His work appears around the world, including recently at the Palais Garnier in Paris.

Joseph Remnant is a Los Angeles-based artist/cartoonist whose comics and illustrations have appeared in Arthur magazine, Juxtapoz, and the New York Times.

Nato Thompson is an author and formerly Chief Curator for Creative Time in New York.

Alice Rohrwacher is an Italian filmmaker, and co-director of short film Omelia Contadina with JR.

George Lucas is a film director, producer and screenwriter, and founder of Lucasfilm.

Carmen Herrera Lawrence is a writer born in New York City with a background in creative nonfiction. She works at JR’s studio, where she manages his communications and supports project production.

Marc Azoulay is a curator, producer, and the Studio Director for the artist JR; he has overseen the creation of numerous public art projects, museum exhibitions, books, apps as well as feature and short films.