New York-based street artist Elle has carved an extraordinary path from her graffiti roots to global recognition, making a name for herself with bold murals and high-profile brand collaborations.

 

• Starting out as an underground artist driven by her passion for graffiti, Elle’s work evolved from illegal street art to sanctioned building murals, catching the attention of major brands.
• With projects ranging from immersive public art to the 1,056-foot hull of Norwegian Luna, Elle’s style merges dreamlike visuals with technical innovation.
• Now expanding into 3D installations and sculpture, Elle’s journey reflects the democratization of street art, breaking down barriers for artists to reach global audiences directly.
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In a world where the lines between high art and street art continue to blur, few artists capture the shift better than Elle, a New York-based street artist whose meteoric rise reflects the changing landscape of modern art. Known for her bold murals and transformative brand collaborations, Elle’s journey from rebellious graffiti writer to international artist is a study in both dedication and creative adaptability. Elle’s story begins in New York, where her love for graffiti pulled her into the world of illegal street art.

I was absolutely obsessed with graffiti.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

Her chosen tag, Elle, meaning “she” in French, underscored her mission to bring a female voice into a male-dominated graffiti scene. In a city where graffiti writers routinely risk arrest to make their mark, Elle’s bold, expressive work stood out on New York’s crowded streets, capturing attention from passers-by—and from authorities.

 

After building a reputation within the street art community, Elle’s persistence paid off in an unexpected way. She landed a sponsorship from a spray paint company, enabling her to approach property owners with a unique proposition: let her legally transform their walls into vibrant murals.

Once I started painting building facades, I started getting invited around the world.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

From the streets of New York to buildings across Europe, Asia, and beyond, Elle’s work became a recognizable and celebrated symbol of urban artistry. Her career trajectory took a significant turn when brands began reaching out for collaborations, intrigued by her signature style and the authenticity she brought to her work.

IKEA asked if they could do a street art poster worldwide and then I did a Reebok capsule collection.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

Collaborations with brands like Nike, Ralph Lauren, and Samsung soon followed. While many artists might struggle with the balance between creative freedom and brand directives, Elle has made it a priority to maintain her artistic voice in each partnership. Her belief in aligning with brands that respect her artistic vision is key to her approach.

I always follow my passion, to my own detriment sometimes, but what’s important is that I feel authentically represented.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

Among her most ambitious and high-profile projects is her recent collaboration with Norwegian Cruise Line, for which she was commissioned to design the hull art for Norwegian Luna, a massive 1’056-foot cruise ship. Describing the project, Elle notes that working on such a large and unconventional “canvas” presented unique technical and artistic challenges. Collaborating with AutoCAD and Rhino specialists, she had to adapt her 2D designs to the 3D contours of the ship’s hull.

The hull is an undulating surface that actually caves in at one point, so when you want to put a circular image on the front, for example, we had to work with multiple moons to create almost an illusion.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

In creating this ethereal scene, filled with moons, birds, waves, and dreamlike shapes, Elle drew on childhood memories and surreal imagery.

I wanted to create something surreal and dreamlike, an adventure, an epic adventure of sorts.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

The hull art features various elements blending into each other, with clouds turning into raindrops and abstract shapes morphing into birds. It’s an artwork that speaks to dreams and wonder, perfect for a ship destined to travel across oceans, bringing Elle’s vision of limitless imagination to people worldwide.

 

 

Elle’s approach to art is not limited to the constraints of a single style or medium. Though she began as a graffiti artist, her work has evolved to include murals, 3D installations, and now, large-scale public projects. And she’s quick to dismiss the notion that artists should remain confined to one “style.” Her philosophy aligns with Pablo Picasso’s, whose creative phases are often studied by artists.

Picasso had his blue period and his red period.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

Elle muses, noting the importance of pursuing new artistic avenues. Recently, she’s delved into sculpture and glass-work, transforming her studio into a space where traditional boundaries of art are continuously pushed.

 

One of Elle’s recent projects for the Strat Museum in Amsterdam exemplifies this evolution. The mural, inspired by Girl with a Pearl Earring, re-imagines the classic painting by blending different ethnicities and AI glitches. With AI’s growing role in the art world, Elle has been experimenting with its “mistakes” as part of her work, turning the technology’s imperfections into art. “AI creates images with seven fingers or ears turning into hats,” she laughs.

I’ve been capturing these glitches and painting them, incorporating them into my work.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

Elle’s journey reflects a broader trend: street art’s evolution into a democratic art form that has leveled the playing field for artists.

If you want your art to be seen, you no longer have to wait for a gallerist to accept you into a gallery.

// Street Artist, Elle

 

This accessibility, she argues, has opened doors for artists like herself, who may not fit the traditional “fine art” mold. And as opportunities continue to come her way, Elle is optimistic about the future. She’ll be painting at Miami’s Wynwood Walls during Art Basel this year, pushing her artistry into new realms.

 

For Elle, every project is an opportunity to innovate, and each new medium an invitation to create art that defies expectations. Whether spray painting, working in clay, or bending glass, she’s driven by a singular goal: to make art that’s accessible, inspiring, and unapologetically authentic. And as her career continues to grow, one thing is certain: Elle is an artist who will never stop pushing the boundaries of what art can be.

 

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