We recently connected with Martha Wade and have shared our conversation below.

Martha, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Becoming a full-time artist has been a journey built on persistence, faith, and divine timing. It wasn’t something that happened overnight. For years, I balanced my creative practice alongside roles as an educator, administrator, and curator. My father, Eugene “Eda” Wade, was a pioneering Chicago muralist, and his legacy shaped me deeply—but like many artists, I had to carve my own path step by step.

In 2011, I began painting in earnest, creating after hours and on weekends while working full-time. I showed at local art fairs, learned to connect with collectors, and eventually co-founded the Women’s LIVE Artist Studio at Navy Pier, where I curated exhibitions and championed other women artists. Those experiences taught me as much about the business of art as they did about my own creative voice.

Then in 2025, life handed me a plot twist. I was unexpectedly pushed out of my full-time role as a school administrator—a moment that could have felt like a setback. Instead, it opened the exact door I didn’t even know was waiting for me. Almost immediately, I was hired as Chief Curator of Local Soul, a new retail concept at Navy Pier dedicated to local artists and makers. At the same time, my own art business, Wadecreate, had grown into a strong foundation through years of exhibitions, art fairs like the Gold Coast Art Fair, and a loyal collector base.

Looking back, the transition felt like divine timing: one chapter closed so another, perfectly aligned one could begin. Today, I’m living my dream—painting, curating, and mentoring full-time. If I could offer advice to my past self, it would be to invest in marketing and community early on, and to trust the process. Every challenge, every side project, every late night at the studio was preparing me for this moment.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m Martha A. Wade, a visual artist, curator, and storyteller from Chicago. Art has been part of my life since childhood. My father, Eugene “Eda” Wade, was a pioneering muralist who helped ignite Chicago’s mural movement in the 1960s alongside legends like Bill Walker and Margaret Burroughs. Growing up surrounded by his work and community impact taught me that art is more than decoration — it’s a powerful tool for education, healing, and connection.
I started painting seriously in 2011, balancing my creative practice with roles as an educator and administrator.

Over the years, I developed a signature style of bold, mixed media paintings on birchwood, blending oil, acrylic, paper collage, and gold or silver leaf. Many pieces include prints of my father’s work interwoven with my own, creating a cross-generational dialogue through art. Each painting tells a layered story about legacy, identity, and the unseen forces that connect us. I even hand-build my own frames, making each piece truly one-of-a-kind.

Through my company, Wadecreate, I offer original paintings, fine art prints, custom commissions, and curation services for private collectors, corporations, and schools. My work also comes to life through art fairs and festivals, where I travel to connect with collectors and communities face-to-face. In 2025 alone, I’ve exhibited at major events like the Gold Coast Art Fair, Magnificent Mile Art Festival, and Southport Art Fest, often traveling around Chicago and beyond to share my work with new audiences.

What sets me apart is the balance of legacy and innovation. I’m passionate about building pathways for other artists and creators. As Co-Founder of Women’s LIVE Artist Studio (WLAS) at Navy Pier, I’ve curated exhibitions that amplify women’s voices on a global stage, including shows at SCOPE Art Basel Miami and the Venice Biennale. Most recently, I stepped into the role of Chief Curator for Local Soul, a unique retail concept at Navy Pier that highlights brands and makers from all 77 neighborhoods of Chicago and surrounding suburbs. Local Soul brings together a rich mix of artistry, culture, and entrepreneurship, giving visitors a true taste of Chicago’s creative soul.

I’m most proud of the communities I’ve helped foster — from collectors who’ve supported me since my earliest shows, to emerging creators whose careers have grown through WLAS and Local Soul. At its heart, my mission is to create bold, soulful art and to use my platforms to uplift others. I want anyone who encounters my work (whether at an art fair, in a gallery, or at home) to feel inspired, connected, and reminded of their own power and light.

Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?

One thing I think non-creatives may struggle to understand is just how much of the creative journey happens off the canvas. People often see the final painting, the art fair booth, or the gallery show and think it’s all about talent or inspiration. But behind every “beautiful moment” is an immense amount of strategy, logistics, and emotional labor.

As a working artist, my days are split between creating and running a business — building relationships with collectors, managing inventory, planning exhibitions, applying to festivals, curating spaces like Local Soul, and yes, even doing the spreadsheets! It’s a constant balancing act. When I left my school administrator role to become a full-time artist, I stepped into this dual identity fully: artist and entrepreneur.

Another thing people might not realize is how vulnerable this work can feel. My art often carries personal stories about legacy, identity, and connection. Putting that into the world requires courage, especially when sales or opportunities don’t come as quickly as you’d like. It’s not just “making pretty things”; it’s sharing a piece of yourself — and then having to pivot quickly into marketing mode to keep your dream sustainable.

If there’s insight I’d want to offer, it’s this: creativity is powerful because it holds both risk and reward. Every piece of art you see represents countless invisible decisions, sacrifices, and moments of self-doubt overcome. For anyone supporting an artist or creative small business, your encouragement, your purchase, or even just sharing their work goes further than you know. You’re not just buying art — you’re investing in someone’s vision and the community they’re building around it.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the belief that I wasn’t “good enough.” Early in my career, I constantly compared myself to other artists and thought their talent or success meant there wasn’t space for my voice. It took time and a lot of self-reflection to understand that my unique perspective is my strength, and that art isn’t a competition. There’s room for all of our stories.

I also had to unlearn the “starving artist” stereotype. That belief ran so deep that I majored in business in college, always trying to “hedge my bets” with a safe Plan B. I took on different career paths, corporate roles, teaching, program management, because I thought pursuing art full-time would be irresponsible or unsustainable.

But over time, I realized something powerful: all the dedication, ideas, and energy I was pouring into someone else’s company could be invested into my own dream. The real risk wasn’t in following my passion — it was in silencing it.
Letting go of those old narratives allowed me to step fully into my identity as an artist and entrepreneur. Now, every painting, every gallery show, every opportunity I create through Wadecreate or Local Soul is a reminder of what happens when you bet on yourself first.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wadecreate.com/
• Instagram: @wadecreate
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wadecreateart
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marthawade
• Twitter: @wadecreate