Dreams Are Made Of

Text and Images by Racquel Miller.

Mayowa Nwadike was studying soil science in college in Nigeria in 2020. Despite excelling in school, he felt unfulfilled.

“My day was not complete without me drawing,” Nwadike says.

During the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, he spent countless hours painting, which intensified his desire to be an artist.

His parents disapproved. His mother told him he would be poor if he dropped out of school.

But he did, dropping out of college – one year shy of graduating – to chase his dream.

In 2021, Nwadike moved to the United States. He spent most of his time painting and cultivating relationships in Brooklyn, while living with a friend, who let him sleep on his couch.

He had his first solo show in 2024, at a small gallery in Bushwick.

“I loved the reception I received in that space,” Nwadike says. “It is what carried me on for so many years.”

His work has since been exhibited in museums in Washington, Chicago and Dallas.

In 2026, Nwadike was included in the annual Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Nwadike’s painting style involves using charcoal and acrylic to create a kaleidoscope of emotions—sadness, serenity, and strength.

Dropping out of school and following his dream, he said, was the right move.

“Oh, yes! Oh yes!” he emphatically exclaims. “Looking back now, 1,000 percent yes.”