Born as Cavola Nienstedt (short for NINI), on February 10, 1966, to Karl-Heinz Nienstedt, a writer and painter, and Karin Mittendorf Nienstedt, a technician in Seesen/Harz, Germany.

After high school, I embarked on a journey to New York City, where I worked for Bogner.

Yoga became my guiding light, leading me to acquire a yoga studio in Aspen, Colorado. As the founder of Arjuna Yoga, I spent 19 transformative years exchanging energy in a 105 to 110-degree yoga studio, nestled just below 8,000 feet.

From the world before Covid to the tumultuous during and after, I've lived the life of an only child, experiencing the highs and lows of owning a yoga studio. I've shared moments with athletes, celebrities, and both seasoned and new yogis, witnessing their growth and struggles.

The love and frustrations felt from my students find their expression in my art. Teaching has deepened my understanding of human nature and reinforced my belief in our collective purpose.

My soul is the painter, and my body is the vessel for yoga. One cannot exist without the other.

My work is abstract, with portraits emerging as peripheral visions of essence. From musicians to politicians, my paintings capture the essence of individuals who have left a lasting imprint on me through their actions and presence.