"I was born in the seemingly quiet city of New York, a city that whispered softly because of my severe hearing loss. Growing up, I faced the challenge of expressing myself and often felt a bit out of sync with my peers. My world was woven with the threads of imagination, piecing together conversations from snippets I overheard and whispers that sparked my curiosity. From creating picture books in elementary school to crafting written short stories, I ventured into the realm of art.

On my 18th birthday, a camera became the lens through which I captured the beauty of life, and soon after, painting became my chosen palette.

My journey brought me to The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, a place where I learned the enchanting language of nonverbal communication through illustrations.

A few years later, life unfolded another chapter, revealing a diagnosis of Usher Syndrome at the tender age of 28—a rare, incurable genetic disorder encompassing hearing loss, balance issues, and the onset of retinitis pigmentosa, a degenerative eye disease.

In the face of these profound changes, I pondered whether my path was still one of creating art. Eventually, I embraced the idea that sharing my experiences, emotions, pain, and joy through each stroke of my art was my true calling. The privilege of visually expressing human emotion, transforming fears, memories, anxiety, and delusions into visual stories, allows me to share a piece of my heart with you, in the hopes of inspiring your own unique connections.”

To follow my personal journey more closely, you can find me on Instagram @meekonos

With warmth,
Nicole Wheat

BFA in Illustration from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia
AAS in Graphic Design from Suffolk County College, New York

© 2024 Nicole Wheat Illustration / All rights reserved for art produced by Nicole Wheat.