embrace your own power — the art of transformation.
Nicola Laura, the artist behind No Arts, brings dreams to life on canvas. Her vibrant paintings merge abstract expression, realism, and emotional depth, reflecting a journey of self-discovery, self-love, and empowerment.
Despite always being highly creative — excelling in art throughout school and loving every moment of creating — she struggled to believe she could truly be an artist. The voices from her surroundings echoed in her mind: “You’ll never make it as an artist. That’s not a real job — it’s a hobby. Wake up from your dream world.” For years, those words shaped her path, leading her to explore other careers that never truly fulfilled her.
At the age of 29, Nicola encountered a family of artists and discovered a transformative art program — a turning point that reignited what had always been within her. For the first time in her life, she felt she could truly breathe — as if a long-buried part of her was finally allowed to live. Her true identity began to unfold, quietly yet powerfully, through color, movement, and presence.
When she later began thinking about a name for her artistic identity, she made a quiet joke to herself — realizing that the initials of her first and last name formed the word “NO.” It felt ironically fitting, as if life had spent years whispering “no, not this,” when all along, art had been the truest yes waiting within her.
L I M I T L E S S, her first oil painting, marked the moment she began to trust the inner vision that was silenced by doubts for so many years. Since then, every brushstroke has become a dialogue with herself, making her believe and remember more in more of her purpose.
Today, her paintings invite viewers to step into their own power, reconnect with their inner voice, and embrace the beauty of becoming. They are not merely images on a wall — they are mirrors for the journey within, guiding each observer to awaken the strength that already exists inside.
Only later did Nicola Laura realize that her first paintings were like messages from her subconscious — silent reflections of her own transformation.
Her second completed work,
C O N N E C T E D, portrays South African model Nontobeko Nothando Mbuyazi, who lives with albinism. After reading an article in which Nontobeko shared how she had once been rejected in her homeland for her unique appearance, yet later turned that very difference into her strength, becoming a celebrated model in Asia, Nicola Laura felt a deep resonance.
In C O N N E C T E D, power lightning bolts emerge from the model’s head with an afro made of clouds, symbolizing illumination and the Connection to the creative force, that reminding her that this beautiful aspect of her skin could be celebrated as a unique strength in another part of the world — in this case, Asia
For Nicola Laura, the painting became more than a portrait — it was a visual hymn to self-acceptance, divine connection, and the beauty of owning one’s truth.
From the moment Nicola Laura returned to painting, something inside her shifted — as if the decision to finally follow her calling had opened a long-closed door.
Vivid dreams began to visit her — not every night, but when they did, they were so powerful that it felt impossible to ignore. They arrived as visions filled with color, motion, and emotion, carrying messages so beautiful and empowering that there seemed to be no other choice but to express them through art. Much like many artists throughout history, Nicola Laura experiences this delicate dance between the creator and the unseen muse.
In her home country, she often felt that the vibrancy of her paintings and her unbridled, almost naive faith in her visions was beyond the understanding of those in her enviornment. This, in part, led her to seek a new one as well — a place that would nurture her creativity, inspire her fully, and be as bright and colorful as her paintings.
One of these dreams carried the seed for her upcoming series: Whispers of a Hummingbird. What this dream truly means will be revealed only when the series is released.
