Everyone has a story to tell and although his is fragmented, ELIK is no different. Keep your eyes peeled and your head up in NYC and you might be able to grab a glimpse of the work left behind by this legend who gained cult-hero status in the early part of this century. Growing tired of the underground fame and the bullshit of the art world he “went off the grid” and disappeared from the scene in NYC. He decided to call it quits for a while and retired on top of his game. Although he never really stopped completely, he definitely slowed down as he matured.
He is shrouded in mystery and by rumors of mythic madness and glorified drug use. There are stories of him being homeless for a bit, living on the streets in shanty shacks and couch surfing with friends. Laying his head to rest wherever he could, he was a sort of an inner city gypsy for awhile. Resting spots included on top of buildings, in parks, in bars, and some say he slept in a boat in Bushwick (Brooklyn) on a few occasions. He’s had his share of arrests and police brutality, which on one encounter in his early career, involved a serious beat down and a vicious dog bite which resulted in huge fines and a lengthy probation. It’s been said that this incident only made him stronger and fueled his desire to crush and get up harder…