Oil on canvas
12 × 16 cm
ABOUT THE PIECE
Follow Your Dreams is inspired by the slogan, “A moving man will surely meet his luck.” The work is a personal reflection on how we are constantly encouraged from childhood to dream big, even in a country where those dreams can be swallowed by insecurity and difficult living conditions.
Despite these circumstances, society, family, and friends continue to encourage us to dream bigger, and we hold on to the hope that one day those aspirations will come to fruition.
In the painting, a young child — the muse — is depicted peeping out from the back of a bus toward the unknown. The image reflects the uncertainty of the future while also suggesting the expectation that, even in uncertainty, hope should be allowed to blossom.
The phrase “FOLLOW UR DREAMS”, written on the vehicle’s license plate, is a central detail of the work. It serves as a reminder that pursuing our dreams may eventually lead us somewhere meaningful.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Semilore Ifeoluwa Adewole, professionally known as Belinda Shalls, is a Nigerian visual artist working primarily in painting and drawing. Born on 3 April 2006, she hails from Oyo State and was raised in Ibadan. She has been painting and drawing professionally since 2025.
Her work focuses on storytelling through vibrant paintings, sometimes incorporating charcoal, and explores themes of faith, belief, dreams, society, nature, trauma, affection, and the beauty of ballet.
Beyond creating beautiful images, Belinda seeks to inspire viewers to step outside their comfort zones and see life from different perspectives. Through her visual creations, she encourages viewers to develop their own interpretations while discovering the messages beneath the surface of her work.
She is committed to developing a distinctive place for rhythm, reality, and dance within the contemporary art world, creating work that challenges established norms and beliefs while offering hope.