Kenyan Artist Takes His Enchanting Murals Across the World

Kenyan artist Bhupi Jethwa, alias WiseTwo, has spread his art from Nairobi streets to fifteen more countries around the world. 

His journey began in 2012 when he began decorating walls and buildings with graffiti in Kibera and Jericho, adding splashes of colour to everyday city life. Jethwa learned from more experienced graffiti artists, watching them transform blank walls into beautiful murals. Despite the threat of punitive penalties from law enforcement, Jethwa kept painting and eventually gained recognition in corporate graffiti, blending classic and modern elements to add life to the mundane surfaces of the corporate buildings. 

"I saw my friends painting graffiti and I loved it, especially I liked to understand that part of the rebellion that is in the art of painting. When you are a teenager, everyone is rebellious. You want to go against the system and create something for yourself. I wanted to be different. I didn’t want to do what everyone else was doing," the artist stated.

One of the places he was allowed to display his enchanting artistic creativity was the Nairobi Street Kitchen, owned by Alyana and Alyssa Popat. Jethwa's works are highly acclaimed throughout East Africa, especially at Nairobi Street Kitchen and Alchemist, a popular entertainment spot in Westlands. Besides Nairobi, his art can be found in Mexico City at the Converse Head Offices and Michael Goldstein Law Offices in the USA.

He has also painted murals in remote villages, cities and famous buildings in Austria, Germany, Uganda, Cuba, Sweden and Columbia. In a past interview, Jethwa revealed that he uses symbols to inspire viewers to contemplate his ephemeral and eternal creativity. Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, in March 2022, was impressed by Jethwa's paintings in Nairobi, particularly how he transformed the bland Nairobi Street Kitchen into an exquisite work of art.