A casual stroll in Nairobi is likely to gift you front-row seats to some of the finest works of art and graffiti in the region - perhaps, the world. Murals of heroes and icons, athletes, celebrities, and cultural symbols brighten several buildings within the Central Business District (CBD) - depicting a society with a greater appreciation for the visual representation of our culture.

While many may appreciate and enjoy the sight of the art, very few Kenyans know the talented men and women behind the paintings.

With a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Art and Design, Viktart Mwangi is behind some of the most iconic murals in the country. He specializes in large-scale murals, painting and illustration.

The colourful murals are developed from a combination of reality and fantasy designed to stand out on the walls they’re painted in.  His work can be found in offices, homes and Schools in Arusha, Dar-es-Salaam, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, and South Australia.

His murals stand out in the outskirts of Nairobi including Jericho and Maringo. The famous Savara (Sauti Sol) and Femi One mural in Maringo were done by Viktart. Some of his work is spread out across the country; Nakuru, Mombasa and Kajiado.

In 2021, Viktart was celebrated by former Central bank of Kenya (CBK) governor Patrick Njoroge for a mural he did at St Kizito Litein School for the deaf - in collaboration with the bank.

"Then there is the superb job at St Kizito’s Litein School for the Deaf, Kericho. The walls give visual excitement and motivation to the students. What a transformation! Thank you for making a difference," Njoroge said.

His Largest mural was painted around ExTelecoms House, Nairobi. At 2280 Sq Meters, the murals took 2 1/2 Months and a team of 8 equally amazing artists to complete. It currently is the biggest Mural in East and Central Africa and 5th in Africa.

Viktart has participated in the Sanaa mural festival in South Australia, Afri-Ngali And the Garagara 250 mural festivals in Kigali, Rwanda.

Though he always wanted to be an artist, Viktart attributes part of his success to senior artists and friends - who pushed him towards realising his dream.

"While I always wanted to be a mural artist, I can say I was pushed in that direction by older artists and friends - Kerosh and Bantu Moja - who saw my work and told me it would look great in a mural," the artist recounted during an interview with the Nation.

Currently, his clients range from private citizens to hotels and restaurants, corporate offices,nd in some instances - state institutions.

Viktart acknowledges the help he gets from his colleagues and friends in executing some of the murals, Kenyans have come to admire.

"I work with a team that assists me in painting. My current team is overqualified, so they aren't really assistants. We've known each other since art school, and I pull them from their individual practice whenever I have projects.

"They enjoy painting, so they mostly just have fun. Having them do the little but essential things on site like mixing paint or holding the ladder makes my work a whole lot easier," Viktart said.