After winning the TED Prize on March 2, 2011, the French-artist JR launched the Inside Out Project, in his first TED Talk. Using his own artistic practice as inspiration, this participatory platform helps individuals and communities to make a statement by displaying large-scale black and white portraits in public spaces. Through their “Actions,” communities around the world have sparked collaborations and conversations.
Over the past decade, more than 500,000 people spanning across 149 countries and territories have participated in the Inside Out Project. Thanks to participants' donations, the project has reached all the continents, with over 2,000 actions created. Actions have revolved around a range of topics: diversity, community, feminism, racism, climate change, education, children’s rights, and art are just a few of them. Posters are displayed in outdoor spaces that are visible to the public. These Group Action installations are documented and shared online.
Together we can turn the world inside out!
JR has the largest art gallery in the world. He exhibits freely in the streets of the world, catching the attention of people who are not typical museum-goers. Working at the intersections of photography, social engagement, and contemporary art, JR collaborates with communities by taking individual portraits of every-day people, printing them large-scale, and wheat pasting them in nearby public spaces, from the slums of Brazil to the streets of New York.
The anonymity of JR and the absence of any explanation accompanying his huge portraits leave space for an encounter between the subject and the passer-by to reflect, thus forming the essence of his work.
Become a Group Leader by organizing an Inside Out Action in your community. Gather 50 or more participants that stand behind a message you are passionate about and paste your portraits in your community.
Get started