Dran, French, 1979, Contemporary Artist

    Dran

    FrenchFrench
    , b. 1979

    Dran’s wry street art practice comments on societal concerns centered on creativity and freedom of expression. He unpacks these themes through his surrealistic characters; many of them are children carrying crayons, a choice that implies the imaginative power of children’s minds while commenting on societal tendencies to tamp down youthful creativity. Other characters in his work include popes, riot police, clowns, tourist families, and pop culture icons such as Pinocchio and Tintin, as well as canonical artists such as van Gogh and canonical artworks like Mona Lisa. Dran has extensively exhibited throughout Europe, in cities including London, Paris, and Barcelona, and has produced public works in cities across the continent.