Seeing Renowned Street Artist JR and Ben Turnbull’s American History Remix at the Saatchi Gallery in London
Established in 1985, the Saatchi Gallery is a renowned contemporary art space located in the heart of Chelsea, London, at the Duke of York's Headquarters on King’s Road, and is one of the most influential art venues in the UK, known for its bold and innovative approach to displaying contemporary art.
© Images by Hiatus.Design
JR: Chronicles.
JR, born Jean-René on February 22, 1983, in Paris, France, is a renowned street artist and photographer celebrated for his large-scale public installations that blend art and activism. Growing up in the Les Bosquets neighbourhood of Clichy-sous-Bois, a suburb known for its socio-economic challenges, JR was drawn to graffiti from a young age. At 17, he discovered photography after finding a camera in the Paris Metro, leading him to document his graffiti work and later paste these photographic portraits in public spaces.
"JR: Chronicles" at the Saatchi Gallery was a sweeping, immersive installation that traced the career of the renowned French street artist JR, bringing together his most iconic global projects under one roof.
Featuring vast mural-sized photographs, video footage, and archival materials, the exhibition highlighted JR’s signature style of large-format black-and-white portraiture pasted onto urban landscapes. Visitors moved through richly layered narratives that explored themes of identity, community, and social justice, from his early graffiti-documenting days in Paris to ambitious international projects like Women Are Heroes, The Wrinkles of the City, and Inside Out.
The installation didn’t just showcase artwork, it pulled visitors into the heart of JR’s practice, offering a powerful reflection on how public art can connect people across cultures and continents
Ben Turnbull's "American History Remix"
A retrospective exhibition that delved into 150 years of America's complex past. Through a satirical lens, Turnbull addressed pivotal moments, from the inception of the 'American Frontier' to the Kennedy assassinations, the pervasive gun culture, and the inauguration of Donald Trump. This exhibition provided a thought-provoking exploration of American history and culture.
As a registered charity since 2019, the Saatchi Gallery continues to operate with the mission of promoting contemporary art while making it accessible to a wide audience. The gallery’s exhibitions are often focused on the works of young and less-established artists, providing them with a global stage.
Over the years, the gallery has helped introduce artists like Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin, and Chris Ofili to a broader public, becoming a significant part of the Young British Artists (YBA) movement in the 1990s. The Saatchi Gallery is famous for breaking boundaries and bringing art that is often thought-provoking and challenging to the forefront, engaging viewers with pieces that push the limits of what is traditionally expected in the art world.
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