I’ve always enjoyed connecting the dots with different areas of art and creativity when it comes to music in relation to painted mediums or film related and working with artists that I have respect for in the particular area of profession. I recently had the extreme pleasure of working with legendary New York subway graffiti artist and world renowneChris “Daze” Ellis on an installation at his upcoming show, Orchid Rain on the Underground. Having known Daze for sometime now, we’ve always thrown out the idea of doing something together and the perfect opportunity finally presented itself. For the upcoming installation, I’ve curated the sound selection which accompanies Ellis’ subway journeys venturing out to many of his favorite clubs from the 1970’s to early 1990’s including the legendary Paradise Garage. The soundtrack is a pure time capsule of songs that capture the energy of that era and what New York felt like during a time that was raw, energetic and creative.
Orchid Rain on the Underground is the third solo exhibition at P·P·O·W gallery and features a new series of paintings, multimedia installation, and a site-specific mural, the exhibition harnesses the passion and spontaneity of the graffiti movement of the 1970s and 80s while demonstrating a thoughtful and meticulous practice honed over the past five decades. While the version of New York City that fostered Daze’s beginnings as a fine artist may feel like a bygone era, the works in this exhibition are evidence of its enduring legacy. By revitalizing that foundational energy for the present moment, Daze affirms the continued relevance of those figures and places, and their profound influence on the creative spirit that persists throughout the city today.
The exhibition will also include a site-specific mural, bringing an aspect of Daze’s practice often relegated to the outdoors into the interior setting of the gallery. Covering the walls of a hallway, the mural gives way to the final room of the gallery, featuring a multimedia installation that transports viewers into a composite scene from the artist’s youth. Combining a light-up dance floor and disco ball, actual subway car seats, and a curated track fusing house, disco, hip-hop, and club music, the installation emphasizes the freedom and creative inspiration that arose from these settings, and their importance to Daze’s personal and artistic development. Combining elements from throughout his career, Orchid Rain on the Underground showcases Daze’s never-ending exploration of daily life in New York City while paying homage to the people and places that comprise its vibrant cultural heartbeat.
Chris “Daze” Ellis
Orchid Rain on the Underground
March 20 – April 25, 2026
Opening Reception, Friday, March 20, 6 – 8pm
390 Broadway, 2nd Floor