Ngabo El'cesart's home a living gallery

Ngabo El’Cesart is a bold  visual artist and illustrator whose honest and unapologetic work celebrates Black people, culture, and the spirit of Afro-futurism. With a practice that stretches across digital illustration, painting, apparel design, and photography, his creations are soaked in color, texture, and meaning.

His art explores and reimagines pop society, transforming it into a rich, layered world of bold prints, dynamic figures, and cultural depth.

From music icons and film stars to raw, powerful depictions of everyday men and women, his characters embody grace, edge, and truth. Nudity, used purposefully, lends a magnetic rawness to his work, challenging conventional standards and connecting with viewers who understand the depth of cultural aesthetics.

Initially drawn to animation and concept art for gaming and comic books, El’Cesart has evolved into an influential creative voice of a new artistic era, one rooted in Afrocentric pride and boundary-pushing visual storytelling.

His work has caught the eye of numerous A-list admirers including Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong’o, and Anderson. Paak, Jaden and Willow Smith, T-Pain, and Ty Dolla $ign. 

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His apartment, awash in beautiful natural light and accented by carefully curated décor, lighting, and an abundance of green plants, immediately confirms that artistry isn’t something he switches on it’s his way of life.

The interiors reflect an effortless mix of fashion and soul; it’s an eclectic, eco-chic sanctuary bursting with character. Textures meet tones, vibrant furniture dances with leafy companions, and style oozes from every corner. One’s eyes are immediately drawn to the masks a stunning collection mounted on the door column. Each one, picked up from countries he’s traveled to, tells a story. “I’m obsessed with these masks,” he says with a smile. 

They stand like silent guardians of the space cultural and beautiful.

The room’s most remarkable trait is its abundant greenery. Real potted plants add life, freshness, and softness, their presence both grounding and sophisticated.

Above a striking green cabinet at the entrance is a refreshing arrangement of music-inspired art, referencing vintage records a visual tribute to his love for sound and its intersection with culture. Hanging nearby is a mirror shaped like the African continent. It doesn’t just reflect the room; it anchors it with identity and pride, effortlessly tying his art to his heritage.

Unexpected touches turn each corner into a visual delight. A small reflective mirror ball on the floor throws scattered light, while a disco light adds a playful mood.

The walls, painted white, serve as the perfect canvas for the carefully chosen art pieces, which explode with color and soul. Large windows stretch open, pouring sunlight into the room.

Two standout sofa seats catch the eye. Cozy, luxurious, and distinct from one another, they are unified by colorful throw cushions that echo the vibrancy of the room’s art. One leather seat, patterned in green and white, is anything but typical it’s stunning, unexpected, and full of personality.

Even the dining table is a marvel, unconventional, the chairs are edgy, and bursting with character. It feels like a group of eccentric friends in furniture form: mismatched yet cohesive, vibrant yet elegant. Adding a playful twist are tiny Smiski cartoon figurines hidden throughout the house. “There are eleven of them,” he says. “I like giving my guests the little challenge of finding them.” Each one glows in the dark.

His display unit is a thoughtful arrangement of nostalgia and nature featuring an old-school recorder, vinyls, carefully placed plants, and a sculptural orange mushroom lampstand.

Together, they form a meditative, stylish corner that invites pause. On one wall, a mounted speaker doubles as an ever-changing digital art screen, quietly reshaping the room’s atmosphere in waves of color and motion.

Among all the pieces, one commands pause: a powerful portrait of Kobe Bryant. Depicted after a game loss, the piece captures a rare, somber moment of vulnerability. The mood it creates is transformative, adding emotional weight to the space and showcasing El’Cesart’s ability to mix visual boldness with tender humanity.

Beneath it all, the floor is dressed in a handwoven blue-and-white carpet bold, textured, and grounding. A glass table displays his art books and plant arrangements, among them a copy of Bold Words from Black Men a fitting homage to his voice and vision. Not far from this centerpiece sits a little transparent orange cabinet, playful in form, topped with a green mushroom lamp that mirrors the one on the display shelf.

Where does he get such striking pieces? He answers without hesitation, “Mostly abroad or online. I’m very intentional when I pick things. Every piece has to mean something.” It’s this level of thoughtfulness that makes the home feel not just stylish, but soulful.

The floor-to-ceiling lamps are a visual feast, dramatic, colorful, and sculptural. With purple and orange hues layered at different levels, they weave between the plants and infuse the room with warmth and joy. It’s theatrical, yet subtle a delicate performance of color and light.

The final room we step into is his studio: a space bursting with energy. Art pieces are everywhere, either displayed or in progress. Paintbrushes and materials are scattered with purpose. And it’s clear why. El’Cesart’s art like his home is a celebration of freedom, difference, and self-expression.

His style is daring and different, bold yet introspective, unafraid to challenge conventions. He plays with color, shape, and texture in ways that feel natural, intentional, and deeply personal. His home, like his canvas, is a world of wonder a place where art lives and breathes.

Watch Art of Living every Thursday at 8 pm on KTN and watch this amazing episode on the KTN YouTube channel.