(b.1994, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) Nevia grew up watching her nonna create within her many talents: painting, sewing, photography, hairstyling, crochet, writing, cooking, jewelry making, you name it, she created it! After observing her nonna at the age of two, Névia was found playing dress up in her grandmother’s room; sliding her crayons along the walls and making little women. Instead of getting in trouble that day, her whimsical grandmother knew the importance of encouraging creativity. From that day on, Névia began to discover the joy of art making.

But like many of us who enter into our teenage rebellious era, she lost site of the creative gifts that were handed to her from above. Névia had taken her gaze off of the values her family did their best to instill within her and began to look to the world for validation. Her mind and soul began to weather like a rose uprooted from its soil. By the time she entered into college as a fine arts major, the world left her empty, hopeless and alone. Her artwork revealed this very fact. 

With shallow attempts to cover her pain with ego and pride she sought and found creative opportunities. She hosted a few painting with a twist events, had her art displayed in local businesses and sold commissions. Around the same time Névia created a YouTube channel (That has been deleted) all about art and curly hair care. But still, she could not shake the empty void within her and her mental health continuously declined. Eventually, Névia knew she had to drop out of school, and get to know herself before she took another step. 

By the grace of God, her college counselor was a pastor to a local church. He invited her to come visit. Névia had been exposed to Christianity as a child and her immediate family were also Christians. She didn’t want anything to do with the Christian God for years as she had looked at the flaws of man and their hypocrisy as one of her primary reason as to why she didn’t want to seek out Jesus for herself. But by this time she felt she had nothing else to lose and there was a little seed of hope, that maybe, this God could restore her. 

With skepticism and curiosity, Névia began to attend this church regularly. She wasn’t too thrilled about it at first but, her little mustard seed of faith kept a small flare lit in her soul. This curiosity led her into genuine prayer and seeking real relationship with God himself. After pouring her heart out one late night of November 2017, Névia had encountered God for the first time and was certain of it. 

You may wonder, “why is this important to Névias’ journey as an artist and curly hair specialist”, because that pivotal night, she began to open up her Bible with a desire to walk with Jesus Christ. This newfound hope shifted her entire perspective and direction in life. For the first time she didn’t want to do things out of selfish gain and temporary satisfaction; like the Grinch who stole Christmas, her heart grew ten times, changing the way she would live, serve others and create forever.

Since this transformation of heart, Névia took a few years to learn how to walk with Jesus before sharing her art and pursing her license as a cosmologist. Now Névias’ entire mission is to live a life surrendered to her God, loving others, and being of service.