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BIOGRAPHY
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Zeehan Wazed (b. Benghazi, Libya, 1991) is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice spans painting, sculpture, choreography, and new media, delving into the interplay between physical and psychological realities. Immigrating to the U.S. in 1994, Wazed was raised in Jamaica, Queens, where his artistic identity was shaped by the vibrant urban culture of New York City.
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As a student at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, Wazed’s daily subway commutes became a formative classroom, exposing him to the underground worlds of graffiti and street performance. He filled notebooks with wild-style sketches and, by night, taught himself hip-hop dance through YouTube before joining ciphers at Union Square. By the time he graduated, Wazed was a recognized graffiti artist and freestyle dancer in New York’s underground scene.
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A Macaulay Honors Scholar, Wazed earned a degree in Perceptual Psychology from Baruch College. There, his academic studies of visual processing and cognitive function informed his art, shifting his focus to canvas as he transitioned from graffiti to gallery work. His pieces, often abstract at first glance, are imbued with personal symbolism and designed to engage the viewer’s imagination. Wazed’s work invites audiences to find familiar patterns and forms, activating a psychological impulse for connection.
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Wazed’s innovative approach has earned him significant recognition. His work has been featured in Artnet, Artsy, Hypebeast, Hyperallergic, Whitewall, Vice and other prominent publications. His interdisciplinary talents also led him to perform with esteemed modern dance companies, including the Martha Graham Dance Company, and on Broadway in the production Illuminate.
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His solo exhibitions, such as Modern Mythology at ABXY Gallery, further cements his reputation as a boundary-pushing artist. Beyond gallery walls, Wazed has made a mark with large-scale public murals, transforming the landscape of New York City. He has painted murals at some of the most high traffic areas including Arthur Ashe Stadium, The Oculus at World Trade Center, Queens Hospital, Diversity Plaza, MetLife Stadium, as well as a mural at JFK Terminal 4.
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Wazed’s studio, located on the 71st floor of 3 World Trade Center, offers breathtaking views of a city he continuously transforms into his own gallery. Deeply connected to his Queens roots, he remains committed to beautifying his borough through public art.
A passionate advocate for education and community engagement, Wazed supports SAYA (South Asian Youth Action), the organization that once mentored him as a student. His multidisciplinary practice bridges divides in an increasingly polarized world, highlighting the power of art to foster understanding, compassion, and unity.
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From his graffiti beginnings to the heights of the New York art scene, Wazed’s career is a testament to the transformative power of imagination and resilience. His work continues to inspire, offering glimpses of shared humanity through the beauty of connection.