Back in early 2018, Ephraim James painted a portrait of Miami Heat guard Dwyane Wade in front of the American Airlines Arena. He completed the work before the statue of the Miami star had been finished, but included it anyway. A fantastic example of foreshadowing the legacy which Wade established. He retired in 2019 and undoubtedly the great player to ever wear a Heat jersey.
Then, in October, he met Wade in Wynwood and showed it to him.
“I was able to tell him about my inspiration, my goals, and what drove me to create this,” James said. “It’s something I’ll cherish forever.”
Miami has a rich history of both art and sports. James, a Cutler Bay native, uses his artistic abilities to bond with the local sports world. Literally.
He has painted at least eight stars from the Heat and Miami Dolphins, including Wade, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyreek Hill and Jalen Ramsey. He’s met up with three of them including Wade, Hill, and Ramsey – as well as 12 others on a slightly less super level.
“Art is something that has been God-given to me,” the 28-year-old said. “When I was young, it started up as just a hobby and passion,”
James, 28, who lives in Cutler Bay, started painting at a young age. He began in middle school when he participated in art programs. He continued through high school and college at Florida International University.
His love for sports began around age nine. He had dreams of becoming a professional but soon realized that wasn’t the path meant for him. Rather, creativity and art became his calling.
“Art is something that has been carried with me,” he said. “It’s something that defines me because I am a creative individual with ambitions.”
James earned a master’s degree in architecture in the spring 2024. A field that allowed him to not lose touch with his artistic drive. “I am a creative individual,” he said. “And I have creative ambitions.”
As a Heat fan, James recalls when the team won its first championship in 2006 season.
In summer 2010, the franchise pulled off arguably the craziest offseason acquisitions in league history, signing three All-Stars: Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh and LeBron James. It was unheard of at that point in time.
Though Wade was drafted by the Heat in 2003, James didn’t get the opportunity to present the Hall of Famer with one of his pieces until fall 2018. The art portrayed Wade himself while wearing his three championship rings, all won with the Heat, alongside a statue of him and the arena in the background.
Wade asked him about the meaning behind the art. That he says, was surreal. “It was a moment that I will forever cherish,” he said.
In the years that followed, James presented his art to the Heat guard Goran Dragic, Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill, and Dolphins defensive back Jalen Ramsey. It would soon become a networking strategy, a way of growing his brand. To display the portraits on big platforms increases opportunities.
James met up with Miami Dolphins cornerback Jalen Ramsey at a car dealership in December 2024. His painting displays the three-time first-team all-pro with the stadium behind him and a football in hand.
The 28-year-old also met up with NFL superstar Tyreek Hill at a Dunkin’ in Palm Beach in September 2024. It was shortly after Hill’s viral moment of being arrested driving to Hard Rock Stadium on the same day of the Dolphins season opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The theme of the piece was cheetah markings. The inspiration was Hill’s nickname, “The Cheetah,” which he was given because of his incredible speed.
James’ most recent success story deserves more attention. Last year, in September, he entered a contest held by the Bam Books & Brotherhood Foundation and Wade’s World Foundation, which are powered by respectively Heat all-star Bam Adebayo and Wade. He was required to submit a design for a basketball court. The winner would have their art built at Chapman Partnership North – Food Distribution Center.
James designed a basketball court and a model was later built by the in-house design team from the foundation. It received the most votes and won.
The design was built around emojis. A lightning bolt refers to Wade when he was nicknamed “Flash” during his playing days. An explosion emoji represents Adebayo, given his nickname “Bam.”
Wade retired after the 2018-19 season and Adebayo became the Heat’s new captain shortly after that. The “passing of the torch” is symbolized by a huge flame in the middle of the work.
“I was utilizing the Heat and Vice color schemes because I wanted to be synchronized with the city,” James said. He mentioned how Wade and Adebayo loved his design the most out of the rest of his competitors.
James works for the Miami Heat at the Kaseya Center as a greeter. Nick Dupont, a colleague and close friend, shared his thoughts about his artwork and accomplishments.
“I think what he does is amazing,” Dupont said. “To have the talent he has and meet up with some of these big athletes, show them your creativity, just awesome to see. There are other Miami professional athletes, former and current, to whom he would like to show off his hard work. LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Shaquille O’Neal, Giancarlo Stanton and Tua Tagovailoa.
James is looking to leave a legacy with his art. To connect with high profiled athletes and showcase his skills make for leaving a mark in the world. The internet is forever and sharing these opportunities to an big audience can inspire young artists.
“There are a few athletes that I’ve been wanting to have personal meetings with so that they can remember me, they can remember my name. I want to be able to showcase that.”
