Roberta Modulo
Plant-based food. Rock 'n' roll. Tattoos. Art and Motherhood.
I like to walk hand in hand, admiring the architecture and photographing the details of the flowers.
I live with a missing part of my heart, and I found in art a gentle way to soothe my heart.
My Story
Hey!
I'm Roberta, the hands and heart behind Nikah Costa.
I was born in São Paulo - Brazil, I am Noah and Owen's mother and I live in Vienna - Austria.
I hold a bachelor degree in Human Nutrition and a postgraduate in English language. I used to be an English teacher and I became an artisan for pure passion.
Since I was a child, I've been fascinated by manual techniques and earrings - lots of earrings.
All the art education projects at school took on enormous proportions for me and most of them kept me entertained for months after they were completed… there were so many clay ashtrays, embroidery, T-shirt painting, coconut soap sculptures, collages, drawings, origami, that I don't even know...
My curious mind has always been looking for DIY projects and in 1999 I decided to start making my own jewellery.
With a few bucks in my pocket, I went to a street in São Paulo (my hometown) which is popular for selling all kinds of art supplies, with my heart and courage to buy material and learn from the salespeople the correct way to use them, since Youtube was far from being a possibility at the time.
I learned from my mistakes and sold my pieces to my co-workers, but with time and other tasks, I started and stopped production several times.
I returned in 2002 and my pieces sustained me while I waited for an Australian visa.
In 2004 they were a hit with my Australian friends, but when I returned to Brazil, in 2006, I kept my focus on other priorities and for years, my material was forgotten in the closet.
It was in 2015 that I reopened my dusty boxes of beads to help me move forward while surviving the most painful part of my story – Noah's death.
Grief and constant anxiety crises kept me away from the classroom, and the need to have a project that would encourage me to get out of bed every day was a suggestion from a great friend, Marina, and I didn't have to think too much before deciding that I would like to work with accessories again.
With the support of my husband and even without much planning, I set up my first store, Ladybug's Bijuterias, with focus on the resale of jewellery and in the first few months, I welcomed my BFF, Sil, as a partner.
And together, we quickly realized that we wanted to put together our own pieces, exclusive collections with unique jewellery became the focus of Ladybug's.
But still, I wanted something more unique. I wanted to produce one-of-a-kind jewellery with personalized and authentic touches that were difficult to achieve while making jewellery out of ready-made pieces.
It was then that I began the search for the perfect media, going briefly through macramé, MDF, wire and copper, I found Polymer Clay and all its versatility.
I was amazed.
The year was 2017 and the addiction to clay, and the universe of possibilities it offers us, began. There is no going back lol.
I took online courses, bought my first batch of Polymer Clay and got to work.
A few months later, I discovered that I was no longer alone - a little boy, whom now I carry in my arms, was growing in my womb.
A high-risk pregnancy, with full bedrest and learning. My first pieces were made with Owen still in my belly.
I gave birth to a child, while nurturing a dream and the certainty that I had found the ideal material for the production of the accessories I had envisioned.
With Owen at home, I started juggling the role of mother, artisan and entrepreneur, and with a lot of dedication, the first pieces in polymer clay became part of Ladybug's Bijuterias collection.
The first feedbacks were really rewarding and made me sure I was on the right track. My curiosity and persistence (would it be stubbornness?) never allowed me to stop studying and even during the long breastfeeding nights, the tutorial videos kept me company and practice was always my first choice during the little one's naps during the day.
In 2019, I presented my technique to the São Paulo City Hall team that registered me as an Artisan and I witnessed admiring glances at the novelty I was presenting them.
I started to be part of Clube da Massa, owned by dear Patrícia Costa, who slowly inspired me to create oversized pieces.
While I improved my knowledge I was finalizing the plans for another great adventure: moving to the heart of Europe.
Then the pandemic tsunami hit and we all had to alter the course of our lives. The year was already 2020, our move was postponed and it was no longer certain, but I continued to find peace in clay while facing the uncertainties of the future, when I received an invitation to participate in the 1st Brazilian Polymer Clay Symposium and with butterflies in my stomach came the awakening of a new possibility: going back to teaching.
And it was during the recording of the classes that my path crossed with a fellow maker, Gleyce, and our affinities were clear from the first contact. The beginning of our friendship and partnership filled with exchanges and laughter.
End of 2020 and the beginning of a new phase. I ended Ladybug's activities, packed up my house and studio towards the realization of a dream! I had to make many choices to summarize my family's 'material' life in a few heavy suitcases and boxes. My work tools shared space with coats, boots and toys… lots of toys!
With the new home, it was easier to explore new materials and brands of polymer clay, previously inaccessible. A new universe of possibilities opening up and even after years, Polymer Clay continues to occupy a big space in my heart and butterflies in my stomach lol.
Along with Gleyce, we created Coletivo Polymer Clay and in September 2023, I relaunched Nikah Costa on Austrian soil.
Still in September/2023, I participated in my first art exhibition, which took place during the 11th edition of the Cultural Festival of Brazil in Vienna.
In October/2023, I took part of Polymer Week 2023 - learning from artists I admire so much was such a dream for me.
In January/2024, I became member of the International Polymer Clay Association.
In March/2024 I started my collaboration at Angelegt, a cute shop in the heart of Vienna shopping area, where I share the space with two clothing designers and together we celebrate the colourful world of slow fashion.
October/2024 I was once again at Polymer Week.
Inspiring, sharing, teaching and spreading beauty around the world are the forces that move me today.
Find me on Instagram: @nikah.costa
