Profile

JonOne (born John Andrew Perello in 1963) is an artist from Harlem, New York, who now lives and works in Paris. Known for his unique blend of graffiti, street art, and abstract expressionism, his work transcends the boundaries of urban culture and continues to explore new modes of artistic expression.

As a teenager, he was fascinated by the tags on subway cars and city walls. At the age of 17, together with his childhood friend “White Man,” he began tagging under the name “Jon156.” Reflecting on those days, he once said, “The subway is a museum that runs through the city.” In 1984, he co-founded the graffiti crew “156 All Starz,” a group devoted to painting trains across New York at night.

In 1987, he moved to Paris at the invitation of the French artist Bando. Settling in the 18th arrondissement’s art squat “Hospital Ephemeral,” he began painting on canvas and collaborated with artists such as A-One, Sharp, Victor Ash, Jayone, and Skki. This shift from walls to canvas enabled him to gain recognition within the gallery system while retaining the energy of street culture.

His exhibitions in 1990 at Gallery 45 Gleditsch in Berlin and in “Graffiti Paris” on rue Chapon marked his entry into the international art scene. In 2007, his 1993 painting Match Point sold for €24,800 at an Artcurial auction, setting a record price in France for a graffiti artwork. Since 2013, he has collaborated with Didier Marien of Boccara Gallery to create a series of rugs that merge street art aesthetics with textile design.

JonOne has also published numerous monographs and art books, including Da Sun Will Always Shine (2011) and My Father’s Keeper (2010). From his roots in Harlem’s street culture to the galleries of Paris, JonOne has built a career that bridges the worlds of the street and the institution, continuing to redefine what graffiti can mean in contemporary art.