John Andrew Perello, better known as JonOne, doesn't need an introduction in the urban art world. Born in Harlem and now living in Paris, the artist honed his craft on subway trains and city walls in 1980's NYC, signing his name as Jon156. As most living in that iconic era, he spent evenings at Studio 54 and and rubbed shoulders with Jean Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol.
When he later moved to Paris, the city he still calls home today, JonOne turned to painting on canvas, bringing with him a bold, entirely modern approach to the medium that has only evolved over time and made him known as one of industry pioneers for graffiti art.
Distinctive and highly nuanced, JonOne’s pieces are renowned for their clever use of space, colour, layering and shading and their nod to graffiti culture. This, along with his subtle yet subversive refusal to conform to preconceived artistic norms or rules has not just garnered him legions of fans, but a well-earned place in the modern urban art canon alongside the likes of Basquiat, Keith Haring and Banksy.
His highly sought-after, financially significant works are coveted by galleries and individual collectors alike and are rightfully considered investment pieces with ever-increasing value.
JonOne is renowned for his talent, integrity and the authenticity of his collaborations. He has worked with a clutch of prestigious industry giants from Guerlain to Lacoste, Air France to Agnes.B. and in 2015 was honoured with the Legion of Honour (Legion d'Honneur), an order of knighthood established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, in recognition of his services to French art and culture. Not only that, JonOne occupies 7th place in the top 25 artists from the street art and graffiti scene worldwide at auction in the past two years.
In association with ArtTime, ‘The Way of Colors’ will see the esteemed artist exhibiting his work in the Middle East for the first time from the 26th November until the 9th December at Jossa by Alserkal in Alserkal Avenue.
The much-anticipated solo show will offer a regionally unprecedented opportunity for art lovers – from inspired young creatives to aficionados looking to add to their private collections – to immerse themselves in, and purchase, a selection of JonOne’s most well-known works, pieces recently created in Paris and, even more excitingly, an array of never-seen-before art inspired by Dubai.
