French Artist JR Transforms Famous Landmarks Into Optical Illusions

Louvre optical illusion — Tourists walk around the JR project at the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, France. Francois Mori/AP

2019-09-10T20:42:01Z

A French artist known simply as "JR" combines photography and graffiti to create optical illusions on landmarks around the world.
He has transformed French landmarks such as the French National Library, the Pantheon, and the Louvre.
He has also brought his talents to the US, turning Lincoln Center in New York and 200 Clarendon in Boston into optical illusions.
Visit Insider's homepage for more stories.

He works anonymously, but his art can be seen from miles away.

TED Prize-winning French artist JR uses iconic landmarks as a blank canvas for his art installations. He invites the participation of the public, collecting photos to plaster on some of the most famous walls in the world and create mind-boggling optical illusions.

Here are 16 photos of landmarks that he has transformed.

French artist JR is known as a "photograffeur," combining photography and graffiti art by pasting enormous black and white photos on landmarks all over the world.

jr national assembly paris — Cars pass by the French National Assembly in Paris, where a projection of French artist JR is displayed, in 2015. Laurent Cipriani/AP

In honor of the 2015 Paris Climate Conference, a projection of JR's work was beamed onto the French National Assembly.

Much of his work has been plastered on French landmarks such as the French National Library tower.

jr paris optical illusion — A giant up side down portrait made of paper strips covers the facade of the French National Library tower in 2013. Francois Mori/AP

The building is 259 feet tall and has 24 floors.

An exhibit at the "Palais de Tokyo" Museum of Modern Art involved a mobile photo booth in a truck outside the building to print the giant posters.

jr optical illusion paris — JR pulls out a print as part of his “Inside Out” project to turn the "Palais de Tokyo" Museum of Modern Art square into a giant portrait gallery. Francois Mori/AP

People could step into the truck and snap a photo to add to the exhibit.

The posters were then pasted onto the walls and floor of the square.

JR's project turned the public space into a giant photobooth and album.

While the Pantheon was undergoing renovations, JR's work appeared on its bell tower.

pantheon jr artist — A giant photo of portraits by JR hides the bell tower of the Pantheon in Paris, France, in 2014. Remy de la Mauviniere/AP

The Pantheon in Paris' Latin Quarter is a secular mausoleum containing the remains of distinguished French citizens such as Victor Hugo, Marie Curie, and Alexandre Dumas.

A photo of a people on the floor almost made the empty building seem crowded.

The renovations took two years to complete.

He brought his talents to New York City in 2012 with a display on the High Line.

nyc high line jr artist — A photo of Brandon Many Ribs on New York's High Line in 2012. Mark Lennihan/AP

The image, entitled "Brandon Many Ribs," originated from the Native American Lakota tribe, who participated in JR's Inside Out Project to bring Native American stories to New York City.

He also created a stunning optical illusion both inside and outside the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in 2014.

nyc ballet jr artist — Part of the large installation by French-born artist JR is seen on the windows of the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in 2014. Craig Ruttle/AP

Images of dancers can be seen through the windows of the theater.

Inside the theater housing the New York City Ballet, the floor was covered in an enormous photo featuring over 80 dancers who looked as if they were mid-performance.

The photo was created by dancers posing on crinkled paper. It was on display from January through March in 2014.

JR also installed one of his portraits at the US-Mexico border, showing a child appearing to peek over the structure.

optical illusion border wall — A Border Patrol vehicle drives in front of JR's mural in Tecate, Mexico, near Tecate, California, in 2017. Gregory Bull, File/AP

"As an artist, I try to bring back perspective," JR told The New York Times of the 70-foot-tall mural. "For this little kid, there are no walls and borders."

In Boston, JR created a mural of a man standing on a dock that appeared three-dimensional on the side of 200 Clarendon.

jr artist john hancock building — A mural by JR appears on the side of 200 Clarendon in 2016. Elise Amendola/AP

The 62-story skyscraper is also known as the John Hancock Tower or "The Hancock."

The mural was 150 feet wide and 86 feet tall.

jr mural boston — JR's mural on the side of 200 Clarendon. Elise Amendola/AP

The art was installed between the building's 44th and 50th floors.

One of JR's most well-known projects was transforming the Louvre in Paris into a giant optical illusion.

The mind-boggling installation made it seem like the Louvre Pyramid had disappeared.

The illusion was created by pasting giant pictures of the Louvre Palace onto the Louvre Pyramid.

The operation required workers suspended on cranes to reach the top of the pyramid.

For his latest project, JR created a giant collage revealing the foundations of the Napoleon courtyard where it stands today.

The installation was in honor of the 30th anniversary of the Louvre's glass pyramid.

Come discover the Great Pyramid @museelouvre this week end ! Thanks to the 400 hundreds volunteers who helped us paste all week the 2000 strips of paper

A post shared by JR (@jr) on Mar 30, 2019 at 1:39am PDTMar 30, 2019 at 1:39am PDT

JR himself jumped in with a broom to help glue down the black-and-white photos.

louvre jr optical illusion — JR works in front of the Louvre in 2019. Francois Mori/AP

This French artist transforms famous landmarks into optical illusions

French artist JR is known as a "photograffeur," combining photography and graffiti art by pasting enormous black and white photos on landmarks all over the world.

Much of his work has been plastered on French landmarks such as the French National Library tower.

An exhibit at the "Palais de Tokyo" Museum of Modern Art involved a mobile photo booth in a truck outside the building to print the giant posters.

The posters were then pasted onto the walls and floor of the square.

While the Pantheon was undergoing renovations, JR's work appeared on its bell tower.

A photo of a people on the floor almost made the empty building seem crowded.

He brought his talents to New York City in 2012 with a display on the High Line.

He also created a stunning optical illusion both inside and outside the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in 2014.

Inside the theater housing the New York City Ballet, the floor was covered in an enormous photo featuring over 80 dancers who looked as if they were mid-performance.

JR also installed one of his portraits at the US-Mexico border, showing a child appearing to peek over the structure.

In Boston, JR created a mural of a man standing on a dock that appeared three-dimensional on the side of 200 Clarendon.

The mural was 150 feet wide and 86 feet tall.

One of JR's most well-known projects was transforming the Louvre in Paris into a giant optical illusion.

The illusion was created by pasting giant pictures of the Louvre Palace onto the Louvre Pyramid.

For his latest project, JR created a giant collage revealing the foundations of the Napoleon courtyard where it stands today.

JR himself jumped in with a broom to help glue down the black-and-white photos.

nproxy.org

This French artist transforms famous landmarks into optical illusions

French artist JR is known as a "photograffeur," combining photography and graffiti art by pasting enormous black and white photos on landmarks all over the world.

Much of his work has been plastered on French landmarks such as the French National Library tower.

An exhibit at the "Palais de Tokyo" Museum of Modern Art involved a mobile photo booth in a truck outside the building to print the giant posters.

The posters were then pasted onto the walls and floor of the square.

While the Pantheon was undergoing renovations, JR's work appeared on its bell tower.

A photo of a people on the floor almost made the empty building seem crowded.

He brought his talents to New York City in 2012 with a display on the High Line.

He also created a stunning optical illusion both inside and outside the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in 2014.

Inside the theater housing the New York City Ballet, the floor was covered in an enormous photo featuring over 80 dancers who looked as if they were mid-performance.

JR also installed one of his portraits at the US-Mexico border, showing a child appearing to peek over the structure.

In Boston, JR created a mural of a man standing on a dock that appeared three-dimensional on the side of 200 Clarendon.

The mural was 150 feet wide and 86 feet tall.

One of JR's most well-known projects was transforming the Louvre in Paris into a giant optical illusion.

The illusion was created by pasting giant pictures of the Louvre Palace onto the Louvre Pyramid.

For his latest project, JR created a giant collage revealing the foundations of the Napoleon courtyard where it stands today.

JR himself jumped in with a broom to help glue down the black-and-white photos.

Read next

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know

nproxy.org