Past
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The Light They Didn’t Pay For
SHOCK UC MSK: Works from Hennepin Ave. October 10 - November 22, 2025 The Light They Didn’t Pay For: an online exhibition of new paintings by SHOCK UC MSK, presented by Joe Ellis Art. From Chicago train yards to Minneapolis studios, this project traces the evolution of graffiti into Post-Graffiti Painting. View works, story, and collector access at Joe Ellis Art. Read more -
DAYDREAMING AT MIDNIGHT
Recent Paintings & Sculpture: SHOCK UC MSK April 17 - May 11, 2025 Daydreaming at Midnight is a solo exhibition of new paintings by SHOCK UC MSK, featuring 17 works created on salvaged industrial materials. Blending graffiti, abstraction, and figuration, the show explores movement, memory, and painting as a nocturnal ritual. Read more -
TREASURE
Springfield, Illinois October 24 - 28, 2024 Shock’s journey began in the Midwest, grounded in the cityscapes of Twin Cities, places with deep history of manufacturing and hard labor, much like Springfield. From his earliest years, Shock built his craft with intense focus, skill, and heart. Now, his works emerge from the same places that have felt... Read more -
"PAINTINGS"
Paintings by six artists who have developed the vocabulary of Twin Cities painting through the practice of graffiti. July 14 - August 11, 2023 Curated by Joe Ellis, "Paintings" is a journey through graffiti as a vocabulary in painting, with a spotlight on its evolution within the Twin Cities. Graffiti, often marginalized yet inherently powerful, emerges as a contemporary manifestation of painting's timeless narrative.
This exhibition aims to examine the dynamics between graffiti and painting, focusing on six pivotal artists who have played instrumental roles in shaping this art form, from within the Twin Cities. From its nascent stages as a response to systemic oppression, to its absorption of myriad styles, graffiti emerges as a testament to creativity's enduring resilience.
The visual art form of Hip Hop culture, graffiti represents a legacy born from marginalized communities, where creative expression becomes an act of defiance. Despite facing criminalization, harassment, and assault, these artists persist, channeling their energies into transforming urban landscapes into vibrant canvases.
Central to the narrative of the Twin Cities graffiti scene are three distinct generations of painters, each contributing to its rich tapestry while forging their own unique identities. Their collective journey, rooted in authenticity, innovation, and ambition, has birthed creative communities that serve as incubators for artistic expression.
"Paintings" celebrates the local legacy of Minnesota's graffiti scene, shedding light on its underappreciated yet profoundly influential nature. Through a curated selection of works from locally renowned artists and one of their NYC contemporaries, the exhibition offers a compelling testimony of this visual language.
Our goal in presenting this exhibition was to begin tracing and illuminating its trajectory from humble beginnings to its current status as a dynamic and integral facet of contemporary painting. Read more -
CUB FOODS, 2023 WEST SIDE
Joe Ellis Art Presents July 14, 2023 - July 8, 2025 CUB FOODS, 2023 A major public mural on the west side of Cub Foods in Uptown, Minneapolis. Featuring contributions from DAESK ONE (Peyton Scott Russell), EMER (Chaka Mkali), EWOK HM MSK (George Thompson), YEN34 HM, KAHN, and SHOCK UC MSK, this collaborative work brings together six pivotal figures from the... Read more -
RIME MSK: ROAD MAP TOUR
Joe Ellis Art Presents July 14, 2023 - July 7, 2025 Joe Ellis Art presents RIME MSK: Road Map Tour , featuring the renowned graffiti writer from New York whose dynamic work has shaped and challenged the boundaries of contemporary painting. RIME has carved a distinctive path through a street-certified evolution, developing a versatile and painterly vocabulary that sets him apart.... Read more -
BLACK BOOK
November 1 - December 31, 2022 The Black Book is essential to the Graffiti writer, a prized possession. The Black Book is where the artist practices styles and works through their creative process. Artists actively seek other artists to “piece” or “sign” each other’s books. In doing so, artist build collections of works by their peers.... Read more -
CUB FOODS, 2022 EAST SIDE
Joe Ellis Art Presents July 15, 2022 - July 10, 2025 This first mural was the launch of the Joe Ellis Art Manifest: a full-circle moment, realized alongside graffiti writer STALK TCI, a collaborator and childhood friend. Together, they curated a lineup of artists who shaped their early creative development. It was a wish-list wall. A personal pantheon. From south to... Read more -
WHERE THERE’S PEOPLE, THERE’S POWER
The photographs of KingDemetrius Pendleton July 8 - August 8, 2022 Since 2014, KingDemetrius Pendleton’s photographs have documented moments that define us. His lens puts us directly within Minnesota’s social justice movement. His pictures capture the most inhumane, while also reflecting the beauty in our humanity. They draw the viewer into personal moments with family, silent prayers, mass demonstrations, ceremonies, or... Read more
