The above painting features the First Layer of ‘Replenish’ January 10, 2025.
I was stretched in 2025 beyond what I knew I was capable of. I produced 60 complete pieces of artwork….
That stretching started right in January, when I began painting the largest paintings I’d ever done when commissioned by First Repair–a National Resource Center for State and Local Reparations founded by Robin Rue Simmons. I was entrusted to give visual form to what a repaired society could look like. In response, I created a series titled Finding Eden—a return to the Garden, to God’s original design for fruitfulness, replenishment, unity, and oneness.
There were three of them to do. Each 7 feet long and 3.5 feet tall. And I had five weeks to complete all three.
For context: during my final quarter at UCLA, I made three smaller pieces in ten weeks—and still painted straight through the night before critique. With First Repair, although I now had more time as a full-time artist I was also–of course–a mom. I had to learn how to integrate my son into the process. But I soon realized this adjustment was not just to meet a deadline, but to open my eyes. He wasn’t a distraction. He was a much needed collaborator—helping shape both my art and my faith by creatively leading the piece about childlike faith with childlike faith:
Eman painting the first layer of ‘As Above, So Below’ - (Click here to see how his first layer directed the piece)
In that same month, I was invited to collaborate with my now dear friend and creative soul sister, Sydney Richardson, for her dance piece titled The Story I’ll Tell:
"A work that discovers the power and intentionality of testimony… Through the storm, there was yet light. We share our stories, we bloom, we overcome." - Sydney Richardson
I painted live during each performance. As someone who works slowly, I had no idea how these pieces would turn out with just minutes to complete. And with the First Repair deadline fast approaching, the timing overlap made no sense to me, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was meant to be a part of it. I soon found that the speed and trust I learned there carried directly into finishing the project for First Repair on time.
AND the collaboration with Sydney also planted seeds for future projects between us that are now in the making. I can't wait to share that with you all as it comes together.
Paintings created live at WACSMASH 2025 for “The Story I’ll Tell” performance. Watch here.
So, as you can see, January 2025 set the tone for a year of lessons on faith. I was often discouraged—time, responsibility, and reality felt stacked against me—but I had just enough faith to trust that clarity would come as I walked. And it did.
What’s interesting is that in January 2026, God continued to press in on me about faith—through quiet time with Him, through community, and through confirmations so specific they make me laugh (including my Pastor calling me out by name mid-service). What I’ve come to understand is this: faith isn’t a destination. It’s a journey. It starts as a seed and is meant to grow into something rooted—fruitful, steady, and unshakeable.
Faith is believing when nothing makes sense in our understanding or circumstances. We walk by faith, not by sight—not because sight is wrong, but because God is doing new things our eyes haven’t seen yet. Faith is how we participate in what He’s creating.
So this season, I’m learning to place God above my own understanding. If you feel that quiet tug toward something that doesn’t quite make sense yet—listen. And do.
One year later — January 2026 update:
• Protecting a Dream has officially launched—along with the Limited-Edition artworks that carry the evidence of most of my labor this past year. The illustrations hold recurring symbols—a glowing heart, a rainbow overhead—visual reminders of hope and faith working together, even when nothing makes sense. As a visual learner, this project gave new meaning to “faith as the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen.”
Click here to explore the limited editions.
• I’m now serving as a Teaching Artist at Kingsway Preparatory School in Evanston, IL—a school founded by my mom, Tamara Stewart-Hadaway, in the Fifth Ward—helping students create with their Creator as they learn how to make the hope in their hearts tangible.
Same seed. Different season. More fruit.
Aaand now you’re all caught up. Stay tuned for the February 2025 vs. 2026 recap 🤍
With love,
Maia Faith