DAZE aka CHRIS DAZE ELLIS (us)
While the city sleep
2010
Hand-signed and hand-numbered silkscreen print on white paper...
70 × 50 cm
31 — édition de 80 signée et numérotée
Location: paris, France
Arianee token ID
637253333
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About the artwork
This composition features a dynamic interplay of figurative elements and abstract,graffiti-inspired forms,rendered primarily in black and a vibrant purple against a white ground. The upper portion of the work depicts two female figures,one gazing directly at the viewer with a contemplative expression,and another with curly hair,partially obscured. Behind these figures,the silhouette of a subway car,numbered "6262," is visible,a recurring motif in the artist's oeuvre that references his origins in New York's subway art scene. The lower half of the piece is dominated by dense,gestural brushstrokes and stylized letterforms characteristic of graffiti,suggesting a chaotic urban environment or an energetic underground culture. The layering of these distinct visual languages creates a narrative tension between representation and abstraction.
Expert opinion
This work exemplifies the artist's enduring connection to the Street Art movement,a significant cultural phenomenon that emerged from New York City in the late 20th century. His transition from subway trains to gallery walls positioned him as a key figure in legitimizing graffiti as a fine art form. The market for works by artists from this period,particularly those who successfully bridged the gap between street and gallery,remains robust. This piece,being a limited edition print,occupies a specific segment of the market,offering accessibility to collectors interested in the artist's output and the broader history of urban art.
About the artist
Chris "Daze" Ellis, born in 1962 in New York City, began his artistic career as a graffiti artist on the city's subway trains in the late 1970s. He was part of a pioneering generation of artists who transitioned from illicit street art to gallery exhibitions. By the early 1980s, his work was being exhibited in prominent galleries, including the Sidney Janis Gallery, alongside artists like Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. His career has since evolved to encompass painting, sculpture, and printmaking, maintaining a distinctive style that merges his graffiti roots with more traditional art forms. His work is held in numerous public and private collections globally.
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