Juan Onofre J.R., best known by his nickname "Poncho," was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, in the Albany/Irving Park neighborhood. Since a young child, he found interest in art from his mother, who would draw Spider-Man for him to color. In his adolescence, Poncho started tagging "Mute" in the streets of Chicago as a way to express himself and his interest in graffiti. As the years passed, he began to explore the Chicago art scene and find his voice as a person and artist. From graffiti, Poncho evolved to street art to express his emotions and Mexican-American culture. He started painting a character that is a reflection of his identity and his journey of growing as a person. Throughout his years, he has learned other artists and himself how to express culture and create new mediums.