Back to Exhibitions
About the Exhibition
The Olayan Group and The Museum of the City of New York (MCNY) will collaborate on a new exhibition, Above Ground Midtown: MCNY x DAZE, that will feature two newly commissioned artworks by acclaimed artist Chris "DAZE" Ellis to be created and shown in the extraordinary retail space at 550 Madison.
The paintings by DAZE will be created on-site in public view at 550 Madison’s south retail space—located at the corner of 55th Street and Madison Avenue—featuring 60-foot ceilings and windows on three sides. Presented in conjunction with Above Ground: Art from the Martin Wong Graffiti Collection, currently on view at the Museum of the City of New York (MCNY), this project—Above Ground Midtown: MCNY x DAZE—extends the celebration of graffiti art into East Midtown. Drawing inspiration from MCNY’s groundbreaking exhibition, which traces the evolution of graffiti from its 1970s roots to its recognition in galleries and museums worldwide, DAZE will create two large-scale paintings that evoke the beautiful chaos of New York City, inspired by both the building and its adjacent public garden.
DAZE, a New York City native, began his career painting subway cars in 1976 while attending the High School of Art and Design. He remains one of the few artists from that era to successfully transition from the streets to the studio and is represented by New York City’s P·P·O·W Gallery.
