Chris Ellis aka Daze

Chris Ellis, known as Daze, is a New York-based artist who emerged from the graffiti scene of the late 1970s and early 1980s, painting subway trains before transitioning to gallery and museum exhibitions. His work blends the energy and visual language of street art with influences from jazz, hip-hop culture, and urban life, often featuring figurative imagery with vibrant, dynamic compositions. Daze is considered a pioneering figure of the first generation of graffiti artists to gain recognition in the fine art world, with work held in major institutions and collections internationally.