A native of San Antonio, Nivia credits her family with forging the creative energies within her. In 1966 she left San Antonio and Texas in favor of Greenwich Village. There Nivia attended Cooper Union. She attended on a full scholarship. Her trek led her to Miami and later to Houston. She would eventually earn a Bachelor's Degree in Studio Art at Trinity University in San Antonio. Adding to her depth of education, she would also receive a Master's Degree in Art at the University of Texas at Austin.
Nivia has experienced national and international acclaim for her art work. She says that much of her inspiration comes from her family and her twin daughters. “Years ago, when my kids were younger, I used to have them underpaint and it would leave impressions… I would then paint based on the smudges my kids had left.”
Her career came to a tragic halt on a dark night when a tire blow-out caused Nivia to lose control of her vehicle and crash into a guard rail. Due to severe
head trauma the 59 year old artist also suffers from memory loss and limited mobility on the left side. Nivia has had a long road to recovery and that her art has been therapeutic and very instrumental in her recovery. This recovery, Nivia says, was an awakening for her and her art reflects her revelation.