On a sunlit afternoon three weeks ago, Misikir Abera, a.k.a MOX, was putting the finishing touches on a piece he so painstakingly worked on for the prior 10 days. Masked and wielding a brush, the 28-year-old artist gently stroked at the seven-meter-wide wall on Equatorial Gunia Street in Megenagna, eliciting awe from passersby.

"Africology" reads the centrepiece of the mural, which has three melanin-rich individuals looking out into different horizons; the woman who stares intensely out into space immediately catches the eye of the beholder.

Miskir's childhood fascination with art saw him venture into the study of architecture at Arba Minch University, where his drawings in the compounds of the university attracted attention.

"That made me decide to showcase my work to a wider public," he told Fortune.

Following a five-year adventure after college in which he toiled about painting in cafes and coffee shops while looking to break into the art scene painting smaller murals in his spare time, Miskir finally reached out to Wereda officials five years ago. Despite being hesitant at first, the officials granted him permission to display his pieces after being impressed by his work.

Miskir then scavenged the streets of Addis, looking for potential spaces to unbridle his visual prowess, finally managing to drape 50 locations in the capital with his brush. He draws inspiration from local history, folklore and landmarks, imbuing his pieces with a distinctly Ethiopian flavour.

"Winter is not exactly ideal for street artists," said Misikir.

An average of 10 days and 15,000 Br goes into every piece he paints, with every penny paid from his own pockets while a side gig as a driver and intermittent projects help him cover his losses.

"I only do it out of love," he told Fortune.

He believes to have been fortunate, as most other aspiring artists neither have the connections nor the finances to realise their musings. He recognises a deep discrepancy between artists' personalities and the bureaucratic environment he attributes to a lack of appreciation for art. Through the times, he has had several confrontations with law enforcement, even getting arrested on one occasion.

"I take risks when I put myself out there to draw," he underscored.

Street art has become a universal feature of the contemporary urban experience in the bustling concrete maze of cities. The streets of Addis have also slowly begun to grace the walls with colourful panoramic displays of artistry.

Urban street art is an eclectic expression encompassing graffiti, portraits, and fine art, all infused with expansive conceptual ideas.

City officials are coming to realise the potential of street art to breathe new life into rundown neighbourhoods and have been increasingly granting spaces for artists to express themselves.

The capital's Arts, Culture & Tourism Bureau has been giving out permission letters to prospective artists who manage to file requests.

Abayneh Zigbale, the theatre & multimedia art team leader, says most street artists fail to recognise there is a way to obtain permits.

"We give out permissions if it aligns with the local community's culture," he told Fortune.

Abayneh indicated that a permission letter also solicits cooperation from other government bureaus such as the Roads Authority & the Beautification & Green Development Bureau. The team leader says there is a recognition of the utility of street art to attract tourism and upgrade the City's aesthetic appeal while it cannot provide financial support.

"Administrative support is all we can afford," Abayneh told Fortune.

The Bureau has been organising street festivals in a bid to bolster the art form.

"It has been underserved," he emphasised.

Dispersed artists have also been coming together with more vigour over the last few years as a generation takes up street art as a viable avenue of expression.

Founded by Solomon Kifle two years ago, Addis Street Art (ASA) has brought together graffiti artists, painters and graphics designers hoping to turn their passion into a business. A graduate of industrial design from Addis Abeba University, Solomon delved into street art six years ago after resigning from his job at a local company.

"No one had heard of street art where I come from," he recalls.

The 31-year-old started fashioning walls around the Piassa area, funding his passion with side gigs as a photographer and freelance designer. Despite street art being unpopular during the period, Solomon made connections at embassies and non-governmental organisations in a short time through competitions and a collaborative project by the European Union.

ASA now receives projects from commercial buildings and government offices to embellish them with images and positive messages.

"Sometimes we do them for free," said Solomon, disclosing that some projects pay up to half a million Birr.

The collective also provides links to 30 solo artists to find gigs at upcoming projects focusing on youth and women.