Naijal “Dayzwhun” Hawkins is a freelance artist skilled in multiple styles and mediums. He specializes in acrylics, digital design and aerosol art and has been an active member of Cleveland’s art scene for more than 30 years. His skills include drawing, painting, mural painting, graphic design and tattooing. He began painting murals at age 13 and is a graduate of the Cleveland School of the Arts.
His credits include murals at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, voting rights murals in Selma, Alabama, and countless works of street art across the country. Dayz has worked with teens to create murals for Cleveland summer youth programs and mentored young adults inspired by his art. Today, he continues to strive for greatness through art shared with the public on walls throughout Cleveland.
This mural pays homage to Cleveland’s hardworking roots, from steel mill and salt mine workers to innovators such as the Wright brothers and Garrett Morgan. The design also features the iconic CMHA building that towers over the West 25th Street area in Ohio City, bringing together people, places and industries that represent the region’s rich history.