JonOne
From the New York Subway to the International Art Scene
Dominican-born graffiti artist and painter John Andrew Perello, known as JonOne, was born in New York in the 1960s. Growing up in Harlem, he discovered the freedom of graffiti at just seventeen, tagging subway trains and walls throughout his neighborhood. A self-taught artist, he eventually transitioned from urban surfaces to canvas — a medium that would take his work across the globe. His creations, deeply rooted in hip-hop, the street, and the energy of the subway, also draw on the language of modern and abstract painting.
JonOne’s freestyle approach breaks away from the conventions of graffiti, street art, and urban culture. Freedom stands as his ultimate principle. His canvases explode with color and movement — spontaneous, emotional improvisations that express both chaos and harmony.
After moving to Paris in 1987, JonOne immersed himself in the city’s vibrant artistic scene, forming connections with figures such as Speedy Graphito and LAII. His paintings are characterized by their density: no white space, no silence— only rhythm and color. Shapes intertwine, dissolve, and reform in compositions that balance precision and spontaneity, symmetry and disorder.
Today, JonOne is an internationally celebrated artist, admired by critics and collectors alike. His collaborations with iconic brands — including Lacoste, Hennessy, Air France, and Perrier — further attest to his cultural impact.
In November 2025, JonOne joins Galerie Outsiders in Rouen.
