A new Bushwick housing development is celebrating the history of graffiti in the neighborhood with two exterior murals created by New York City artists.
The project was curated and produced by the Museum of Graffiti, which selected New York City-based graffiti artists DAZE and Brooklyn native GIZ to undertake the works, commissioned by development firm The Horizon Group.
GIZ said the new project was especially important as it allowed him to create his largest work to date. The mural, which can be seen from the Myrtle—Wyckoff Avenue Station, spans nearly 6,000 square feet and took two weeks to create.
In the second mural, overlooking the building's outdoor green space, veteran graffiti artist Chris "DAZE" Ellis created a smaller scale mural of a futurist safari.
DAZE got his start as an artist writing graffiti on New York City subway cars in the mid- 1970s, while he was a student at the High School of Art & Design. In 1981, his work was featured in a group exhibition Beyond Words, alongside Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring. He has gone on to exhibit a number of renowned museums and galleries.
Museum of Graffiti Co-founder Allison Freidin said The Horizon Group's decision to embrace and highlight graffiti was a move in "favor of ending the stigma pinned on incredibly talented aerosol artists who have spent decades shunned for this type of work."
Co-founder Alan Ket added this type of partnership "not only beautifies the area but also allows graffiti artists to earn a living from their talents instead of paying fines and being prosecuted."
The new development at 1510 Gates Avenue is slated to open early 2022.
Jillian Forman, of The Horizon Group, said it was the company's intent to use the walls at the new residential project to celebrate local artists and leverage amenity spaces to foster a collaborative community for new residents.
"Bushwick is a thriving community, filled with vibrant art and culture," she said.
"We are thrilled to partner with the Museum of Graffiti and two distinguished artists to create vibrant murals that are authentic to the neighborhood."
