Meet Mooz, a Mumbai-based graffiti artist whose journey kicked off by painting on his hip-hop crew’s shoes and bags. A chance sighting of a vibrant graffiti piece in his Virar neighbourhood inspired him to try his hand at walls, and there was no looking back. His childhood nickname has evolved into his artistic alter ego, and his wild murals (think cartoons, characters, chaos!) have splashed across countries from Brazil to Indonesia. We caught up with Mooz for a quick chat about his beginnings, his global graffiti adventures, and some of the funniest reactions he’s had on the streets.
Beginnings
I used to be part of a hip-hop dance crew, and that’s where my love for graffiti began. I would paint on my friends’ shoes, bags, and other personal items — but never on walls. The first time I ever tagged a wall was after I saw a graffiti piece in my neighbourhood. I was honestly shocked to see something like that in my area, and it pushed me to try it myself. One night, I grabbed a spray can and a torch and tagged a railway track wall in Virar. It was messy and unfinished, but my friends called it “the best graffiti they’d ever seen!”
"Mooz"
“Mooz” feels like my true identity now. I never imagined that writing this name on a wall with a spray can would completely change my life. I consider myself fortunate to have been able to follow my passion and live my dream. Every new opportunity brings a sense of achievement, and I’m incredibly grateful for the life I have today.
Exploring, Growing
I’ve been to around 7–8 countries so far, but Brazil and Indonesia stand out the most for me. Brazil was my first international trip, and it exposed me to some insanely talented artists. Seeing their work up close opened my eyes to how much more there was to learn about graffiti.
Then, in Indonesia, I experienced a super vibrant graffiti culture and met some inspiring artists. It pushed me to keep evolving and refining my style. Those trips showed me that the graffiti world is huge, and it motivated me to step up my game.
Words Harita Odedara
19.06.2025
