RU
EN
MINIMALISM IS A WAY OF LIVING AND FEELING
by Katerina Chekan
February 2026
Carla Nicieza is a visual artist and designer whose creative life is deeply intertwined with minimalism, nature, and a Mediterranean way of living. Born on the Mediterranean coast, she studied design and art in London and Barcelona, and now lives and works on the island of Mallorca, Spain, where she develops her own creative project, Nicieza Studios — a space where her paintings, design projects, and aesthetic explorations come to life.
Her artistic practice, wardrobe, and daily rituals form a single, quietly considered system — one shaped by pauses, repetition, and a strong sense of self. This conversation is about calm confidence, about form as an extension of an inner state, and about how simplicity can be deep, personal, and endlessly expressive.

IG: @carlanicieza

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE CONNECTION BETWEEN YOUR ARTISTIC PRACTICE AND YOUR PERSONAL STYLE IN CLOTHING? ARE THERE SHARED PRINCIPLES THAT GUIDE YOUR DECISIONS IN BOTH REALMS?


I definitely feel there are similarities between the way I dress and the art I create. In both, I’m drawn to a calm, peaceful colour palette. I dress in a very minimalist way and I’m always looking for beautiful materials and interesting cuts. For me, it’s about building not only a thoughtful everyday wardrobe, but also a kind of studio uniform that feels like me.


The same goes for my painting and drawing. I love working on cotton and linen, and I tend to stick to just a few favourite tools. There’s something comforting about keeping things simple and familiar.

I feel like my sense of self grows stronger
when I repeat outfits.

WHAT THREE TO FIVE WORDS WOULD DESCRIBE YOUR STYLE, AND WHY? WHAT CORE MESSAGE DOES YOUR STYLE COMMUNICATE?

If I had to describe my style, I’d say minimal, neutral tones, elegant, uniform dressing, oriental. Those are the words that I remind myself when I’m standing in front of my wardrobe or bringing a new piece into it. I’ve always loved 90s minimalism and Japanese cuts. There’s such a quiet confidence in them.


IN PREVIOUS INTERVIEWS, YOU’VE SPOKEN ABOUT MINIMALISM AND THE IDEA THAT PIECES SHOULD BE “TIMELESS” AND WORN OFTEN. HOW DO YOU DEFINE THE BOUNDARY BETWEEN FUNCTIONALITY AND EXPRESSIVENESS IN CLOTHING?

I really enjoy owning pieces for a long time and making the most of them. I feel like my sense of self grows stronger when I repeat outfits - almost like having signature pieces that I feel completely at ease in. For me, the key is a strong base. From there, I like to play with texture, layering and accessories. It opens up so many possibilities without feeling pulled too far into trends.
COULD YOU SHARE A FEW PIECES THAT HAVE GAINED SPECIAL MEANING FOR YOU OVER TIME — NOT JUST AS GARMENTS, BUT AS MARKERS OF EXPERIENCES OR STAGES IN YOUR LIFE?

There are quite a few garments in my wardrobe that I truly cherish. One is a crocheted dress that I designed, inspired by one Jane Birkin once wore. A small brand called Majula Studio handmade it for me. I wore it during Copenhagen Fashion Week last summer and felt so good in it. It was one of those happy pinch-me moments, especially as I still feel quite new to fashion environments.


I also love my vintage finds. There’s a small woven leather bag I found in Japan last summer for just three euros, which feels so special to me, and a pair of sandals I discovered on Vinted that look like nothing I’ve ever seen before.

HOW DO YOU WORK WITH THE IDEA OF MINIMALISM WITHOUT LETTING IT BECOME MONOTONOUS OR VISUALLY PREDICTABLE?

I like having fun with accessories - changing buttons, adding little details, giving pieces my own twist. Every now and then I push myself slightly out of my comfort zone, like with an animal print coat I wore this winter. Vintage is great for that. There are so many affordable options that let you experiment without a big commitment.


WHICH BOOKS, EXHIBITIONS, ARTISTS, OR DESIGNERS ARE SHAPING YOUR AESTHETIC THINKING AT THE MOMENT?

At the moment I’m reading Água Viva by Clarice Lispector. It feels very dreamlike. I love reading a few pages before bed or early in the morning, when everything is still quiet.

I’m also working on a few projects at home - building a folding screen and a mobile - so Alexander Calder and Charlotte Perriand have been on my mind lately. They’ve always been favourites of mine. I also often think about Elsa Peretti. We share a life by the Mediterranean, and I admire everything she created.

YOU WORK WITH A RESTRAINED PALETTE, BOTH IN YOUR ART AND IN YOUR CLOTHING. IS THAT A MATTER OF DISCIPLINE OR INTUITION? WHY DO YOU CHOOSE NOT TO WORK WITH BRIGHT COLORS?


I naturally gravitate towards the colours I see in nature around me, and I aim to create elegant compositions that feel true to who I am and my personal taste.


That said, I do love colour! I just prefer to introduce it in small doses. I’m especially drawn to blue, and I really admire the Bauhaus way of working with primary colours.


Editor’s note: The Bauhaus reduced the palette to primary colors and treated them as clear, structural elements rather than decoration. Color was directly linked to form and function, becoming an integral part of the overall construction.

I love embracing being a woman artist - painting delicate orchids or soft subjects - while confidently wearing suits and more traditionally masculine cuts.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE FEMININITY FOR YOURSELF? DO YOU APPRECIATE MASCULINITY WITHIN A FEMININE LOOK?

For me, the sensitivity behind creating feels intimate and feminine. I love embracing being a woman artist - painting delicate orchids or soft subjects - while confidently wearing suits and more traditionally masculine cuts, working in a field that is still largely led by men.

YOU ALSO CURATE PLAYLISTS ON SPOTIFY, WHICH IS A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO SHARE YOUR TASTE AND VALUES AND TO OFFER DEEPER INSIGHT INTO YOUR AESTHETIC WORLD. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT OTHER DAILY AESTHETIC RITUALS YOU HAVE — IN YOUR CLOTHING, YOUR SPACE, OR YOUR CREATIVE PROCESS?

Yes! I adore music. My playlists feel very personal and they’re always playing in the studio while I paint. I even draw the covers for them. 
I usually light some incense, make a tea or coffee, and wear something simple that I feel good in - usually black trousers that don’t mind a few paint stains and a good T-shirt or shirt.

My work is usually inspired by the overall mood of a playlist I’ve curated - almost like the cherry on top.They are mainly centred around the seasons, but also draw from personal experiences - winter evenings spent in restaurants in Paris, or opening the windows on a fresh spring morning.

A FEW FAVOURITES OF MINE THAT REFLECT MY ATMOSPHERE:

Subscribe and receive new issues before anyone else!
Made on
Tilda