Brazilian muralist’s work shares his story and his faith

“Kobra” has painted about 3,000 murals on walls all over the world. You may not know his nickname, but almost everyone has seen some of his murals on social media: David (the one by Michelangelo), Christ the Redeemer (of Rio de Janeiro), Anne Frank, or Mother Teresa with Mahatma Gandhi. His work is a distinctive combination of photorealistic figures with a geometric explosion of colors.

That's what he does today. But as a child, did anyone — including him — expect he would be making such beautiful works?

His childhood on the outskirts of São Paolo, Brazil, was full of poverty, violence and discrimination. He overcame them starting when he was young by immersing himself in street art.

"I came from a simple place, with all the opportunities that were open to me in terms of crime, violence, drugs, and many other things," Eduardo says in an interview. "But on the street I was always interested in art." His first graffiti in the city was illegal. Today, however, he paints on the same walls — including church buildings — with the owners' permission.

Today he’s one of the world's most famous muralists, committed to spreading peace, supporting the poor or evangelizing. But not that long ago, Carlos Eduardo Fernandes Léo (now known as Kobra) was in a very difficult situation. He had a long history of illness, heavy metal poisoning, several stays in prison, and problems with alcohol.

Carlos didn’t go to art school. He simply loved painting and learned to do it on his own.

"This process of getting to where I am now was not easy. Everything was against me. There was no indication that I would be able to follow this path," he recalls.

"Many of my friends who had talent took an easier path” of crime, he says. “They were successful at first, but ended up in prison or even dying," he adds.

Despite the difficulties, Kobra carried painting in his heart and devoted himself to it with passion. This helped him experience the bright side of life when things were really hard for him. Despite the difficulties, he followed what he loved. On September 12, 2023, he wrote the following on Instagram about this stage of his life: “Do not despise humble beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the beginning of the work.”

He straightened out his life, started painting regularly, and started a family. Then, tragedy struck: his daughter died. On Instagram on March 14, 2020, he publicly shared his grief and, unpopularly on the world street art scene, his incredibly strong faith:

Shortly after losing his child, Kobra became seriously ill with COVID. During this time he experienced the unique presence of God. The artist decided to paint a mural about it after his recovery. Today, the artwork occupies the wall of a 108-ft-tall building in São Paulo. It tells not only this city but also the whole world, through social media, that God can pull everyone out of their dark valley.

He describes the work, called Hand of God, as follows:

The difficult situations that the 47-year-old artist from Brazil went through seem to be guiding his creative work today. He paints about world peace, about gratitude, equality, and helping the poor. He paints about the common path of faith and science, and about hope.

He knows what it's like to be hungry, so this year for Easter he painted a beautiful work about sharing food, about hope for those most in need, on the wall surrounding the parish of São Paulo da Cruz.

"More than half of Brazilians have food problems and don't eat often enough. This is very serious and very painful. My new mural on the wall of Calvary Church, in Pinheiros, São Paulo, shows the importance of feeding the hungry. Let's show love to others who need it most. How about thinking of a concrete gesture?" Such a concrete gesture for Kobra was to organize a lunch for 120 poor and homeless people. He prepared the lunch together with the Passionist Fathers, and the local bishop also sat down to eat with everyone.

The dishes were cooked for the guests under the guidance of celebrity chef and Brazilian Master Chef juror Henrique Fogaça. To continue the works of mercy, Cobra has founded an organization called the Kobra Institute.

To observers of his activities and artwork, he’s also a preacher of the Good News, although the artist himself may not think of himself as such. On his instagram profile you can find messages such as these:

"God wants to resurrect your dreams".

"Jesus is extraordinary"

"If God is with us
Who will stop us?
If God is with us
There is nothing to fear!"

"My hope is in God. And yours?"

"Hold on to God's hand and go!"

Looking at this profile that emerges from his words, works, and actions, we can't help but think that it’s like a biblical story about a seed that must die so that a strong and beautiful life can grow from it. It’s a life that gives life, gives hope, and gives light. Thanks to this, the Kingdom of God appears in the midst of people who are perhaps walking in darkness.