About

 

Ever been arrested at Niagara falls while you were dressed as a clown and went to jail in full costume? Ever slid down a dance pole in Miami dancing to Depeche Mode? How about paint murals in New York and accidentally smoked Angel Dust? Maybe get kidnapped in the Venezuelan mountains?

3 of those things are true. Which ones? Well, it's your task to find out. 

 Nabila Valera was born 1986 in Venezuela and grew up in Caracas, the capital. On long car trips with her mother she first saw the art form known as “bordado guajiro". This artform originated in the indigenous tribes of what today is known as Venezuela & Colombia; and is evident as one of the main influences in Nabila's art. It doesn’t come as a surprise that her ancestors can be traced back to the Andean region, and that indigenous genes run strong in her DNA.

Nabila describes her art as conversations with herself, and you can tell that the talks with herself are driven by an unapologetic view of the world and human beings. Her colorfoul fiber statements such as "I’m fine" or "Love will save the day" say a lot by not saying too much. They are sometimes funny, sometimes brutal. Sometimes both. 

When asked what ignites her curiosity, she answers: “Textures, definitely touch is the sense that I enjoy the most, and mine is very sharp. I like to feel the world through my hands, I am always touching everything. Anything that can be touched makes me curious.”

Early 2022 Nabila created a body of work in Miami, that she completely sold to renowned art collector John Marquez. Her pieces "The runners", "Welcome", "Tupac" & "We all have scars" now sit in one of the finest collections next to art from Kaws, George Condo, Hernan Bas, Nicolas Party or Haroshi. After that, exhibitions at NBB Gallery in Berlin and at Mindy Solomon Gallery in Miami followed.

Mid 2024 she went deep into the Orinoco Delta to the Waraos community to source and learn how to produce fiber with them. Since then she is taking a deep dive into the prey of that trip.