Gregory Krikko Obbott facts for kids

Gregory "Krikko" Obbott is a talented artist and architect from Nigeria and America. He is famous for his huge pencil drawings of city skylines. You can see his amazing artwork in big public places. You can also buy his drawings at famous spots like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. "Krikko" is the special name he uses to sign all his art.

Amazing Artworks

Krikko has created more than 15,000 drawings of city buildings. He often uses postcards and photos to help him draw. He creates his art from his office in New Haven, CT.

One of his most famous pieces is:

• "Super Big Apple" (1995). This is a giant pencil drawing of Manhattan, New York City. It is 15 feet tall and 20 feet wide! Krikko used 2,496 pencils to draw it. The artwork shows over 10,000 buildings and 150,000 windows.

Krikko's Life Story

Krikko comes from a town called Okon in southern Nigeria. He was the only child in his family. His mother passed away when he was born, so his father raised him.

Krikko moved to the United States from Nigeria in 1974. He studied art and architecture at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. He graduated in 1981.

Since 1990, Krikko has lived in New Haven, Connecticut. He uses his architecture skills there. In 2007, Krikko bought an old building in New Haven. It used to be a stable for horses. He bought it from the city for $5,000.

A Museum for Pencils

The building Krikko bought was in bad shape. It had been empty since 1977. Krikko plans to turn this old building into "A Pencil Museum In the Hill." This will be a fun museum for kids. It will have a public art gallery and a studio space for artists. The city of New Haven is excited about his plan. They are working to improve the area around the building.

Outside of his art, Krikko also loves music. He is a passionate jazz saxophonist.