Jef Aérosol

Jef Aérosol, in one name, has given us the universe. We can already hear the sound of the ball which resonates against the walls with spray paint and can smell the solvent, freed through the spray.

Born in Nantes in 1957, Jef Aérosol, his real name Jean-François Perroy, is a French graffiti artist. He belongs to the first wave of street artists, who developed their stencil in the 80's. "Blek Le Rat", "Miss Tic" or Epsylon Point, all these names are considered as true icons and the founding fathers of urban art today.

In the whole of France, on can see figures emerge and it is their black silhouette which gives them life. Jef Aérosol began in Tours, Orléans and Lille before attacking London, Rome, Lisbon and Brussels...His passion for street is due to the punk movement, which made a lot of noise in 1980, a cultural mosh which brought along artists from various horizons.

Before beginning his career, Jef Aérosol was an English teacher, but his desire for music and art in general, slowly made him change paths. He draws inspiration from rock iconography, as he was also a member of this group and drew inspiration from icons like Clash or Bob Dylan, as well as vinyl covers.

When the artist embarked on ephemeral art, music is not his only creative motor but also names like Ernest Pignon Ernest and Georges Rousse, legendary names for murals.

Initially, the subjects for his stencil work was his own self, Jef Aérosol. Following this, he used the rock generation personalities like Elvis Presley or Jimmy Hendrix, and froze their portraits between two lanes, whether they were a star or not, each one became a VIP (Very Important Pochoir) for him. This is how he began taking musicians or passers by on the street as models...

His work stands out due to the red arrow in all his graffiti paintings, but which doesn't have a precise explanation. He is mostly famous for « Sitting Kid » a stencil, symbolizing a young child who is alone and withdrawn. This became famous around the world and is now part of the Wall of China.

But distance isn't his only victory. On a wall in Paris, in front of the Stravinsky fountain of Niki de Saint Phalle and Jean Tinguely, a face looks at us, with eyes that clearly hint that it's time to be quiet. "Chuuut " is his biggest work, it measures 350 m2 (22 x 14 m).