An 21-year-old college student earns $8,000 by creating mosaics of sports stars using cubes.

• Dylan Sadiq was named College Cuber last year after he began crafting mosaics of renowned athletes using cubes.
• During the pandemic, Rutgers University student Sadiq, 21, began creating cubed artwork.
• This year, he predicts he will make approximately $100,000 in sales of art.

A portrait of Luka Doncic was the first, followed by Damian Lillard. NBA teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics took notice. Major League Soccer clubs like the New England Revolution and the Chicago Fire reached out, as did the National Football League's Dallas Cowboys and the New York Giants.

Dylan Sadiq, a 21-year-old student at Rutgers University, became famous as the College Cuber after his mosaics consisting of cubes, similar to Rubik's Cubes but copycats, attracted numerous requests.

Sadiq, who charges $8,000 and can create a cube portrait in under four hours, gained popularity on social media and received retweets on Twitter. As a result, teams such as the NFL's Tennessee Titans, NHL's New Jersey Devils, MLS's Philadelphia Union, and New York Red Bulls sought his work.

CNBC reported this week that Sadiq stated, "This is not what I expected," while a new mosaic he created of Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, was going viral.

Covid ruined everything

Although Sadiq is in his final semester at Rutgers and is set to graduate with a degree in biomedical engineering, he does not see himself pursuing a career in the field.

During the pandemic, his interests shifted because virtual schooling did not hold his attention.

I was fully immersed in my education when I was in person, but since we've been online, it's not the same. I feel like I didn't learn much, and if put in a situation to make an impact, I don't know how to help.

Sadiq, lacking in-person internships and hands-on experience in school, turned to mastering the Rubik's Cube by combining his social media accounts and engineering interest.

Sadiq recounts the tale of when his brother, Brandon, dared him at the age of 10 to solve the cube. As a reward, he received the Call of Duty video game. It took Sadiq a week to accomplish the task.

In February 2021, Sadiq honed his skill in solving cubes to improve his speed. Later, he transformed this talent into an artistic outlet.

Sadiq bought $1,000 worth of cubes and managed to put together 560 pieces to make a mosaic of Doncic, the all-NBA guard of the Dallas Mavericks. He posted it on Instagram in April, and the Mavericks saw it and shared it with their followers. This led to another mosaic of Lillard being created with similar results by the Portland Trail Blazers.

Sadiq stated that he was uncertain if Luka Doncic or Mark Cuban had seen the mosaic.

CNBC reported that Cuban, the Mavericks owner, stated that he didn't see it.

Sadiq stated that he is almost certain to decline engineering jobs, but he does not view his time at Rutgers, which costs over $40,000 annually, as a waste. He explained that the university employs him for live events, such as the football game against Ohio State in October and the inauguration of the new school president.

My artwork is where I feel valuable, which is why I am the College Cuber," said Sadiq. "The pandemic ruined everything, but it's a significant part of why I am who I am.

Finding motivation in Detroit

In July, the Detroit Pistons were the first pro sports team to commission a mosaic. Sadiq visited the Motor City and created a portrait of Ben Wallace, the Pistons' Hall of Fame center. During his stay, he also made a mosaic of the Red Wings for their NHL draft party.

He made sales to the NFL's Lions and created a mosaic of slugger Miguel Cabrera for the MLB's Tigers, which they presented to him to celebrate his 500th home run.

Sadiq admitted that he didn't comprehend his actions while in Detroit, stating, "I was merely attempting to turn the experience into something enjoyable."

As Sadiq wandered around Detroit, he became fascinated by the artwork that celebrated Black pride in the city. This inspired him to develop an idea to expand the College Cuber.

Sadiq exclaimed, "The artwork was incredible! I imagined seeing it created live, and it had such a powerful message. The colors and vibrancy were breathtaking. I wish I could witness the creation of such a beautiful piece."

Sadiq made it happen. He started charging up to $3,000 for a live performance and can create a piece of art in about three hours. For a flat fee of $8,000, clients can see the live event and keep the artwork.

In September, Sadiq transformed the College Cuber into a limited liability company. Since the Pistons became his first paying client in July, he has generated $38,000 in revenue. Approximately $27,000 of this revenue was earned as profit. Sadiq keeps costs low through a deal with a toy wholesaler and does not pay rent on the studio in his mom's basement, where he creates his mosaics.

He joked that she might begin charging him (rent) soon.

Sadiq believes he will surpass $100,000 in sales this year. The Chiefs have already purchased a mosaic of Mahomes, and Derrick Henry of the Titans is looking for a piece.

The NFL commissioned a mosaic of commissioner Roger Goodell for $8,000 after Joe Favorito, a renowned sports public relations expert and professor at Columbia University, viewed one of Sadiq's mosaics in a video and was impressed. Favorito arranged an introduction.

Favorito stated, "We often overlook the value of creative talent." He emphasized the importance of recognizing and supporting young content creators who possess unique skills. Favorito's engineering and science background allowed him to approach his work in a specific way, which resulted in his ability to create something truly remarkable in a short amount of time.

It all started on the trip to Detroit.

That weekend in Detroit was a turning point in my life," said Sadiq. "I went from being a kid who made videos online to someone who took action. I learned so much from that experience.

Making money on social media

Giovanni Contardi, an Italian artist, has been profiled by CNBC for monetizing cubed mosaics using Rubik's products. In 2019, he sold a mosaic of Amy Winehouse for $5,000 and gained social media attention for a piece on LeBron James.

Sadiq has been in touch with Rubik's for a brand partnership. The company is owned by Canadian toy manufacturer Spin Master, which is publicly traded on the OTC market.

Favorito stated that while the pandemic posed challenges for him, it also presented digital prospects that he could exploit.

The College Cuber's business relies heavily on social media, particularly his Instagram account, which has been approved for a bonus program that rewards creators for posting reels. Sadiq has earned approximately $550 from Instagram so far. Additionally, he has joined TikTok's creator fund after his mosaic of Mahomes received over 100,000 views.

To generate extra income, he will create mosaics and charge clients $750 for the promotional video that businesses can use in their advertisements.

Sadiq does not charge pro sports teams for video posts. Instead, he seeks retweets or reposts to increase exposure. Manchester United, Barcelona, and the NBA's Orlando Magic have all helped promote his work on soccer and basketball fans.

Sadiq intends to utilize the additional focus for positive purposes.

Sadiq, a New Jersey native, attended his first NBA game last year courtesy of the New York Knicks after creating a mosaic of all-star Julius Randle. The experience was "life-changing" for him as he was able to better understand the "culture and the unity of sports fans."

Sadiq is now requesting that teams who become clients offer free tickets to fans who have never attended a sporting event.

He stated that his goal with his artwork is to unite the fans.

Sadiq stated that the creation of the College Cuber was unplanned and that he recognized the impact he had on others.

This individual, aged 24, creates portraits using hundreds of Rubik's Cubes.