KONGO
Cyril Kongo, whose real name is Cyril Phan, was born to a Vietnamese father and a French mother. His youth was shaped by travel and diverse experiences: he spent his early childhood in Vietnam before living his teenage years in Brazzaville, Congo. It was there that he found his artist name, Cyril Kongo.
In 1986, he created his first tags in the Paris region, marking the beginning of his artistic career. Joining the MAC crew in 1988, he contributed to the creation of monumental murals recognized internationally until 2001, notably in the United States, where he met key figures of New York graffiti. His work has been highlighted in documentaries such as Trumac, de Paris à South-Bronx and Writers, 20 ans de graffiti à Paris, 1983-2003.
In 2002, together with the MAC crew, he launched the international graffiti festival Kosmopolite, aimed at promoting this urban art form and sharing its history. Since then, Cyril Kongo has been dedicated to championing graffiti art through exhibitions, collaborations with luxury brands, and educational workshops.
Today, his work is exhibited in galleries around the world, from Paris to Singapore to Hanoi. In 2021, he presented his pieces in Montmorillon, creating a dialogue between his art and the rich literary heritage of this historic city.
