Bello Color Thug - The Nigerian Artist Making Urban Art Impossible to Ignore

In the world of urban art, very few names crackle with as much peak energy and symbolic weight as Color Thug. Neon greens, pop culture silhouettes, and cultural-pushing murals have made his work both instantly recognisable and deeply resonant when you come across it.

In this conversation, we step into the mind of one of the most compelling urban artists of this generation. From the streets that raised him to the walls that now carry his voice, Color Thug invites us into the scenes and rituals behind his work. From the moment he picked up a pencil, art became more than a subject for Color Thug,  it became more of  a sanctuary.

“From a very young age, I discovered a natural pull toward art, it became my favorite subject and passion,” he says. “The energy and curiosity it stirred in me felt limitless.”

That ignition in it was all the more powerful in a world that didn’t always believe in it as a worthy cause or career.

“Growing up, I often heard people say, ‘art is nothing.’ The doubt and skepticism that surrounded me became the fuel I needed to push forward.” For Color Thug, art was more than rebellion. It was proof. It was a way of telling the world I exist, and I will be seen.

Bet! You will know a Color Thug piece the moment you see it;  vivid, layered, full of playful defiance. But his unmistakable aesthetic was not something that arrived overnight.

“My style in urban art is largely inspired by pop culture and cartoon art,” he shares. “Developing my own visual identity in the pop art space wasn’t simple, I had to intentionally stand out.” Through relentless experimentation, he found his signature, often anchored in one specific shade - neon green.

“It feels like my artistic signature - it represents life, energy, and vibrancy in everything I create.”

Color Thug has worked with different surfaces the way a DJ moves between sounds but with precision and purpose. “Painting on different surfaces gives me different experiences,” he explains. “On walls, there’s this raw, uncensored energy. On canvas, I tend to be more deliberate, thoughtful with composition and structure.”

His favorite project is A graffiti piece on a friend’s Mercedes-Benz. “It felt surreal, even risky,” he says, “but it challenged me to think beyond the ordinary and explore what art can mean in unconventional spaces.”

Alec Monopoly. Jean-Michel Basquiat. Keith Haring. KAWS. Takashi Murakami. “They all taught me to be fearless in how I show up in the world.” But beyond visual artists, music also plays a major role. Sound is often his first collaborator.

“It helps shape my mood, colour choices, and storytelling.”

And when it comes to materials, Color Thug is currently deep in a season of experimentation. “Acrylics and spray paints - texture, layering, different forms of expression. That’s where my curiosity is leading me now.” Street art, by nature, is ephemeral. That’s something Color Thug has made peace with. “I don’t overthink it,” he says. “In most cases, the work will eventually be erased or painted over. But in that moment- it’s pure, unfiltered expression.”

That impermanence brings freedom but it also invites critique. And Color Thug welcomes it. “My pieces often carry conceptual depth, and I know not everyone will understand them, but that’s okay. Criticism is part of the process.”

He’s aware of the misperceptions around urban art. “People don’t always realize how much technique, planning, and execution goes into large-scale pieces, especially across different mediums.”

“Coming from a place where people often don’t want to see you win has motivated me to push even harder,” he says. “I’ve made it a personal mission to succeed, not just for myself, but to prove that it’s possible.” That mission fuels his ambition to take his work global and into unexpected spaces.

“One of my dreams is to have my work featured in prestigious galleries and luxury spaces, places like Louis Vuitton or Gucci stores. These venues attract diverse audiences from around the world, and I want my art to speak to that crowd.”

And my wildest dream: “A full graffiti piece on an airplane,” he grins. “The scale, the symbolism- it would be incredible.”

At the heart of it all, Color Thug wants to be remembered for more than his art.

“I want to be known for resilience for staying motivated, believing in my craft, and continuously evolving.”

I create imagining a viewer’s first time seeing it. “I hope you get lost in the colors. That you feel the depth. That you catch the whimsy hiding in the details.”

Finish this sentence, we ask:

“Art should…”

He pauses. Then smiles.

“Art should be fearless.”