JR - Limited edition. Until I Find a Real Job - 2003

Limited Edition (1226/2000). Sold out !
The book Artist Until I Find a Real Job was published on April 28, 2023, by Atelier JR, in a limited edition of only 2,000 hand-numbered copies. It comprises 1,472 pages (4 kg) and is conceived as an encyclopedic volume that explores JR’s entire career from 2002 to 2023.
The book is organized thematically and by technique, including mechanical works, marouflage on canvas, ink on wood, glass sculptures, NFTs, and more. High-resolution photographs present not only the finished works but also behind-the-scenes moments, the creative process, and the technical collaborations that bring each project to life.
The introduction features a conversation between JR and renowned art curator Hans Ulrich Obrist, exploring JR’s methods and artistic philosophy. This is followed by an essay by Eric Roth, the acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter, and a text by curator Hugo Vitrani from the Palais de Tokyo, offering critical and contextual insights into the artist’s work.
JR uses his studio practice as a means to fund his large-scale public projects. This volume documents the duality between studio-based and public work, revealing the versatility of his creative methods. The title itself reflects the artist’s self-deprecating view of his profession — “Artist Until I Find a Real Job” — underscoring his nomadic and independent approach to the artistic vocation.
This is one of the few books offering a comprehensive view of JR’s creative process — from concept development to final installation — documenting over twenty years of artistic evolution. The exceptional quality of the images and captions makes it a valuable tool for art enthusiasts and professionals alike, whether for study, appreciation, or education. Its limited print run and artisanal production make it a true collector’s item.

JR’s style is a compelling blend of photography, street art, and social activism. It defies categorization into a single genre, but can be described as participatory, monumental, and deeply human, aiming to give voice to the invisible through photographic imagery.
JR prints and pastes black-and-white photographic portraits on large urban surfaces — façades, trains, containers, rooftops. These works are often monumental in scale, creating a powerful visual effect where the human face becomes architectural. He uses “marouflage,” a traditional gluing technique, to apply images to walls, bridges, domes, or even politically charged barriers such as the Israeli-Palestinian separation wall.
He actively involves local communities: photographing people from the area and turning them into protagonists of public artworks. His projects address complex and often overlooked themes — poverty, marginalization, war, inequality, and the condition of women. Rather than making judgments, his work poses questions and invites empathy.
JR maintains his anonymity — signing only as “JR,” often wearing dark glasses and a hat — because he believes the focus should remain on the work and its subjects, not the artist himself. His art is not about him, but about the people he photographs and the stories they represent.
His installations are site-specific and respond to the physical context, creating a dialogue between image and environment. He often uses illusionistic perspectives (anamorphosis) or incorporates architectural elements into the faces and bodies he depicts.
“Art doesn’t change the world, but it can change the way we see the world.” – JR
JR creates art that lives in the street but is born in the studio — art that draws on the aesthetics of photography but carries the force of social critique. His work breaks down the barrier between artist and public, turning every wall into a voice