JonOne, whose real name is John Andrew Perello, is also known by the pseudonym Jon156. He is an American graffiti artist and painter, born in 1963 in New York. He is of Dominican origin. John Perello was born in Harlem, New York, in 1963. It was here that Jon discovered street art and began tagging his own name on the city's walls. He was one of the founders of the 156 All Starz crew in 1984, which marked the start of his career.
JonOne’s work has evolved since the early days of graffiti in New York. His style goes beyond the traditional codes of graffiti. Whether in his black and white series, colour series or “graph” series, JonOne’s style in motion is the missing link between the great masters such as Kandinsky and Matisse, the American abstract expressionists such as Pollock, De Kooning, Joan Mitchell and Robert Motherwell, and contemporary art. His recent paintings include a combination of vibrant colors melted within simple shapes expressing his optimistic vision towards the irony of our world. In a parallel series, he unveils a dry humor egocentrism by writing his name indefinitely in reference to his graffiti roots. JonOne’s style is one of the most personal of his generation, half way between abstract and street smart painting. He is bridging the gap between modern art and contemporary art. JonOne has already earned himself an international reputation.
© S.Jaffrain / © Speerstra Gallery
