Moses Opio stands next to one of his graffiti drawings. Passion for his work is what has got him this far. Photo by Isaac Ssejjombwe
Graffiti art: Moses Opio did not got to school to learn his art. All the art and graffiti he does was self-taught after following around people who did it. Today he is reaping big from the skill as an artist, graphics designer and graffiti teacher.
How do you define your kind of job?
I am a graffiti artist.
When did you start doing graffiti?
I started doing graffiti art around March 2008 at the Breakdance Project Uganda. I Kept myself in a circle of creative minds that I found in the game at the time.
Where did you get the experience to do this kind of job?
I learnt from the amazing Kibuuka Mukisa Oscar (KMO), Abramz Tekya, Imran Azad and Deexoh Muhizi (Deexy) and others. I really learnt a lot from these great people and this has kept me relevant to date.
If someone wants to have a look at your work, where can they find it?
They can visit my Facebook page (Mos Opten) and take a look at some of my work, or they can email me at opiom97@gmail.com.
How much do you charge for a graffiti drawing?
I do A-4 framed Graffiti Art pieces each at Shs55,000, Graffiti Art Screens A-4 at Shs40,000 and A-3 at Shs50,000. For Mural projects, I charge according to the size of the wall, or canvas you want me to work on. But my prices are negotiable.
What are some of the challenges you face doing this job?
There is no perfect location/wall to do my work, building owners overcharge us yet we beautify their buildings and the unpredictable weather conditions also hinder my outdoor mural projects.
How long does it take to draw a painting on a wall?
Some walls take two hours, others five, while others can take a day or days.
How have you benefited from this job?
It has paved way to all the great things I do these days. I am a graphics designer, videographer, video editor, and graffiti teacher too. I am also paid well by the people I work for, so I have no regrets. I didn’t go to any school to learn any of the things I do, but because of the great people I met on my way as a graffiti artist, my friendship with them became solid, the connection mattered. I was able to learn all these from them for free.
What inspires you?
Passion, being humble and disciplined. God over everything.