The Chronicles of Miami

In November 2022, JR visited ten different neighborhoods that make up the fabric of Miami. He invited anyone passing by to take their portrait, photographing 1,048 residents and visitors. The portraits were collaged together to create The Chronicles of Miami, a highly realistic, photographic mural that offers a window into the social dynamics and paradoxes present in Miami life. 

As one of JR’s most intricate and epic murals to date, The Chronicles of Miami is debuting across two facades in December 2023. The first section of the mural is presented in the Design District’s Jungle Plaza and the second section spans the facade of Superblue Miami in Allapattah. Together, the installations measure over 400 feet.

This is JR’s fifth Chronicles mural. Inspired by the Mexican muralist Diego Rivera, the series imagines how an entire place can be represented through art. Through JR’s unique process of taking participants’ portraits and recording their voices, he not only visually depicts the energy of a city, but also embeds a diverse array of human stories directly into the artwork. Each participant’s voice is connected to their portrait through the free augmented reality app JR:murals. 

Over the course of ten days, JR brought his mobile studio, set up in a 53-foot-long truck, directly to the streets of well-known and historic Miami neighborhoods. Parked in Little Havana, the Design District, Liberty City, Miami Beach, Little Haiti, and Coconut Grove, among other places, passersby were encouraged to step into the studio. JR worked with each individual as they decided how they wanted to represent themselves in their portrait. Each person was asked, how do you want to be remembered? How do you see yourself? 

Following their portrait, each participant stepped into a recording booth where they could share a thought, story, or experience. Some participants used their moment in front of the mic to share how they found themselves in Miami or how they see the city changing, while others spoke about their passions, worries, or hopes for the future. 

JR began his Chronicles series in the Parisian suburb of Clichy-Montfermeil in 2016. In 2018 and 2019, JR moved from capturing one neighborhood to an entire city, creating The Chronicles of San Francisco installed at SFMOMA and The Chronicles of New York City presented at the Brooklyn Museum. His The Gun Chronicles: A Story of America (2018) was the cover of TIME Magazine. In JR’s murals, participants are photographed in the same light, giving each community member equal importance.