A CONVERSATION WITH

NACIAH

With every stroke, Naciah evokes memories, honors her origins, and lets her African heritage speak for itself. Born in Mozambique and based between Madrid and Paris, her black and white work portrays faces with a truth that transcends the paper. She often draws with her fingers, other times upside down, as if the strokes respond to an inner voice rather than a learned technique.
Although her modeling career is part of her identity, today we delve into her artistic universe. Naciah captures bodies and gazes with a special sensitivity. In addition, the music she listens to, the landscapes she inhabits, and the energy that surrounds her also filter into her works.
Authentic, magnetic and with a style that comes from the inside out, Naciah invites us to look more closely and feel more truly.
Naciah with the Milos ring and the Kea bracelet in silver.
From YOLIÉ, we celebrate her talent, her roots and her vision of art as a tool for
expression, belonging and beauty.
When and how did you discover that drawing would be one of your forms of expression?
I think I was born with it, as drawing has always been a part of my life. I realized it was one of my forms of expression, especially when I was angry. I would lock myself in my room to draw and wouldn't come out until I finished. My parents are also very creative and have always encouraged me.
You often draw with your fingers and sometimes upside down. What does it mean to you to create in this very personal way? Why did you choose this technique?
Drawing upside down is something I do simply for fun, to challenge my brain. As for using my fingers to draw, it was my father who taught me. On weekends, he would bring home sheets of paper from work and, using the charcoal we had for cooking, draw with my sisters and me.
Your works pay homage to your African roots. How do you experience and explore this connection to Mozambique in your creative process?
I was born and raised in Mozambique, and I hold a deep sense of pride in my roots. My greatest muse has always been my mother: an incredible woman who taught me to be who I am. It's not just a connection; it's everything I know and everything I am.
What would you like people to feel when looking at your portraits?
The beauty of art is that it's open to interpretation. I know the feeling I left in that drawing, but I love to step back and listen to what people feel and see for themselves.
Your work as an artist and model is reflected in your communication channels, but also in your lifestyle. How would you define it?
Every day I wake up and try to do a little bit of everything that gives me life: I exercise, play chess, draw, dance in my room, listen to a podcast... I'd say my lifestyle is intentional. I live with purpose.
What inspires you on a daily basis?

I have very clear dreams and goals, and what inspires me every day is visualizing them. It motivates me to do things that bring me a little closer to them.
What does a jewel represent to you?
For me, a jewel represents a story.
Do you have any that are special because of what they symbolize or remind you of?

I don't own much jewelry, but it all holds very important memories for me. That's why I always wear the same ones and almost never take them off.
If YOLIÉ were...
  • An emotion:
    Yolié gives me serenity…fluidity.
  • A work of art:
    One of those Cycladic marble sculptures featuring female figures. Very minimalist, feminine, timeless, and steeped in history
  • A scent:
    Smell of the sea, I think it's because of the pieces I'm wearing from the Cyclades collection .
  • A song:
    On the Nature of Daylight , by Max Richter.
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Your YOLIÉ favorites:
It's hard to choose, I have so many that I love...
The ones I'm wearing now are beautiful— the Kea bracelet and the Milos ring —but I love gold. The Bernia bracelet and the Ifach ring were the two pieces I fell in love with when I first saw your collection. Also the Jávea necklace along with the Benissa bracelet ... they're so different, and each one has its own identity.
Naciah's favorite jewelry

Learn more about Naciah at @naciahh.