How Frederick 'Dricky' Became Nigeria's Street Art Ambassador

From childhood cartoons to million-naira commissions, the story of Lagos' most prolific graffiti artist

The dreads are long, clean, and impossible to ignore. Two years of growth frame a face that's been watching, creating, and disrupting Lagos' art scene with an intensity that matches the city's own relentless energy. This is Frederick, though you'd never know him by that name. "My real name is Frederick, it's so common, it's like you can't stand out and that's how Dricky came about," he explains with the kind of matter-of-fact confidence that's made him one of Nigeria's most sought-after visual artists.

Known professionally as Dricky Stickman, he's perhaps the busiest visual artist in Lagos and one of the highest rated in Nigeria. But his journey from childhood sketches to international recognition, including recent collaborations with Adidas and a phone booth design unveiled by the UK Foreign Secretary, began with something much simpler: Saturday morning cartoons.

"I never had to learn fine arts," Dricky recalls. "Those shows they used to do on STV back then, the cartoons; I'll just watch them and after try to draw what I saw. Even when we had to do practicals in school and everybody was struggling with artwork, it was easy for me to just finish my own."

That natural ability manifested early. He created a comic book in secondary school, a creative achievement that would later become a family joke when his cousin admitted to stealing it years later. But the foundation was set: art wasn't something he studied, it was something he lived.

His father was an artist, but like many Nigerian parents, his family pushed for a "professional" course. "My mom suggested architecture but when I found out what it was about I said nah..." He chose sociology instead, though his parents remained supportive of his creative pursuits.

The pivotal moment came during a childhood visit to London with his family. "We just used to go through different places and I remember stumbling onto Brick Lane, seeing graffiti everywhere, and it was very inspiring," he remembers. But it was a chance encounter at East Street Market that truly ignited his passion, watching an artist paint t-shirts with spray paint and airbrushes while his family moved on without him.

That image stayed with him through university strikes and limited opportunities. When his fashion designer brother suggested they create something together, Dricky knew exactly what he wanted to pursue. But with characteristic Nigerian pragmatism, he found a safer entry point: "I don't want to get caught. I don't want to get into any trouble. I think I'll start with my wearables, painting on shoes and bags that belong to me."

What began as self-preservation became innovation. "I literally popularized wearable arts in Nigeria, that was around 2014," he says. His university friends became his first customers, constantly requesting custom pieces. The business grew organically from painted shoes and bags to graffiti walls, corporate projects, and eventually, million-naira commissions.

His work caught the attention of major brands and celebrities. In 2021, bCODE, the official Adidas retail partner in Nigeria, announced a partnership with Dricky to create an exclusive original Adidas collection themed "Spirit of EKO," centered around the distinctive landmarks and aesthetics within Lagos. The collaboration showcased his ability to translate street art into mainstream commercial success.

Dricky's client roster reads like a who's who of Nigerian entertainment and business. He's worked with DJ Cuppy, Marvin Records, Access Bank, and even painted a bag worth 14 million naira for actress Genevieve Nnaji. "Meeting Genevieve Nnaji, she gave me a bag to paint, I later found out the bag was worth 14 million naira," he recalls. He took a creative risk by adding an extra element to the design, it became Genevieve's favorite part.

But success has also meant navigating the less glamorous side of celebrity culture. "A lot, all these exposure guys and it's those celebrities you look up to they are the one that are always looking for free jobs," he says when asked about rejected commissions.

In November 2024, Dricky's work gained international political recognition when UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy unveiled a phone booth designed by the Lagos-based graffiti and visual artist during the launch of the "Jollof and Tea" initiative, celebrating UK-Nigerian ties. The recognition marked a significant milestone for Nigerian street art on the global stage.

His work has been featured in major exhibitions, with critics noting how he "pays special attention to the patterns, styles and trends of the urban environment, inserting a spectacular twist to our routine experiences. His work is influenced by the aesthetics of local sign posters and bumper stickers found on public buses in Lagos."

"Painting is the most stressful that's why I do it, I like the challenge it presents to me," Dricky explains. His approach to graffiti is almost therapeutic: "In graffiti it's like you are spraying away your problems, it's one of those things I do for myself but it's stressful and takes a lot of time, about 8-10 hours."

His secret weapon? "I am ambidextrous", he can use both hands equally well, a skill that gives him a unique advantage in his craft.

Today, Dricky's work spans continents. His recent European tour included a pop-up with Nigerian brand WBF at Sloan Space, attracting international collectors from Saudi Arabia, Italy, and America. He's currently working on a painting for Rich the Kid, documenting the entire process for his growing fanbase.

Beyond individual commissions, he's building a comprehensive brand empire: launching a website, developing merchandise, creating pop doll figurines, and moving from collaborations to ownership. "I still dey make money oh," he laughs when asked about COVID-19's impact on his business, noting that the only real change was wrapping up earlier due to curfew restrictions.

"A lot of people are lazy, I want to show them it's possible," Dricky says about his five-year vision. Rather than leaving Nigeria, he wants to become "the poster boy for street art in Africa." He's particularly passionate about changing perceptions of street art, which he sees as underrated and misunderstood.

"Dricky Stickman wants to change how African art is seen and felt throughout the world." His approach goes beyond traditional gallery exhibitions, which he finds boring, preferring to create art that intersects with daily life and popular culture.

Dricky is now recognized alongside other iconic Nigerian street artists like Osa Seven, but his journey from cartoon-obsessed child to international artist represents something larger: the power of staying true to one's vision while adapting to opportunities.

His story, from that mesmerizing encounter at East Street Market to designing phone booths for foreign ministers, proves that sometimes the most powerful careers begin with simply staying curious enough to watch an artist work. In Dricky's case, that curiosity has evolved into a mission to redefine how the world sees African street art, one spray can at a time.

Dricky's next exhibition is scheduled for Manchester on the 26th of this month, with additional international shows planned throughout the year.

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