Check out Neila The Alien’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neila The Alien.

Neila, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I was born and half raised in Champaign, Illinois. Moved to Georgia when I was 9. I’ve always been into the creative aspect of life. When I was younger, I used to find some way to get on a stage whether it was to act, sing, dance, or recite a poem. I grew up being in a chorus and on the dance team throughout grade school. Art is definitely a lifestyle. I’ve learned different mediums growing up which helped me express myself more than words could. I got into fashion design around 8th grade when I developed a sense of style for myself. Definitely had a Harajuku/Emo thing going. I was mostly hand sewing pieces until 11th grade when I finally used my sewing machine (that I got in the 6th grade!). Backward, right? My life growing up was definitely hard, I got bullied for how I dressed and wore my hair. It seems like a bunch of fictional rocks were being thrown at my head from all around. Home and school, my only safe space was my room. After graduating, I went into a depressive state because I felt like I wasn’t grounded and was alienated. I saw where I wanted to be but just felt like there was no way out at the time. I was out of school for like six months, and I was mostly creating clothes, self-photography art, and YouTube videos. Creating is the only thing that kept me sane during that stage of my life. I ended up enrolling in the Art Institute Of Atlanta- Decatur where I gained a sense of independence and also realized that everything I was learning in school, I taught myself the year before. So I just ended up using school as a networking pool, while maintaining good grades. Then I stopped going around 2017 because it got too expensive and I couldn’t afford it. Now I mostly focus on fashion designing and performance arts, as well as being an influencer online. I’m currently working corporately in my career field and working towards sustaining myself through entrepreneurship.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do? Why? And what do you hope others will take away from your work?
I create from a lot of different mediums, mostly through fashion and performance. I create concept dance videos, and I have a fashion brand called MANIFEST. MANIFEST is a clothing brand for the dancer in me, Its always hard to find cute, crazy clothes to dance in, so I created the brand around that mission. MANIFEST was created shortly after I got through a low point in my life. It was then I knew what I spoke, I could bring whatever I wanted into fruition. What I hope that people take from my art is that anything that you want for yourself is definitely possible for you to reach. You just have to speak into the universe, set intentions for yourself as well as goals for you to reach your vision. MANIFEST IS A LIFESTYLE!

Do current events, local or global, affect your work and what you are focused on?
Yes, I think it’s changed because of the internet. It’s a lot of mediocrity and people can get away with it. It’s similar to politics. My art is mostly affected by thieves who continue to steal it. My art has been stolen locally, nationally and internationally. I’m affected in a way where my art is seen, but it’s not coming from me nor am I making ANY profit off it being sold in various places. I just want my art to be heard and seen through me. It just doesn’t have the authenticity when it’s coming from someone/somewhere else.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
You can see my art on my Instagrams: @neila.thealien @ravemanifest
*My actual fashion brand page IG is still under construction due to me getting trademarks and LLCs together so I can protect my art
I have a YouTube which is: https://www.youtube.com/VERSATYLE
You can support my art through Depop : www.depop.com/manifest17

Contact Info:

• Website: www.depop.com/manifest17
• Phone: 6788099850
• Email: neilathealien1@gmail.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/neila.thealien
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/neilathealien/
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/VERSATYLE

Image Credit:
KaysapMedia

Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.