When I look at the African art my mother, Nadya Levi, gathered over her lifetime, I don’t just see an African Art collection—I see her. Each piece carries a trace of her eye as a sculptor, her curiosity as a traveler, and her passion as a collector. Growing up in her world meant living in the constant presence of forms, textures, and stories that stretched far beyond our own home.
The Akuaba figures in particular remind me of the balance she saw between simplicity and power. With their large disc-shaped heads and understated bodies, they embody ideals of beauty, fertility, and protection. To me, they also reflect how my mother viewed art: not as decoration, but as living symbols infused with meaning. She would often stop to explain not just what an object was, but why it mattered—who made it, for what purpose, and how its spirit continued to resonate.
Her own work as a sculptor shaped the way she engaged with these objects. She understood the weight of wood in the hand, the patience required to carve a curve, the silent dialogue between artist and material. In her eyes, the African artists whose works she collected were not anonymous craftspeople but fellow creators, voices speaking across continents and centuries.
As her son, I now recognize how deeply this shaped me. My brothers and I inherited not just her love of art, but a way of seeing. To be raised among these pieces was to learn early that objects carry memory, that cultures converse with one another, and that collecting is not about possession but about stewardship. The pieces she chose have become part of our family story, threads linking her life to ours.
When I stand before her collection today, I feel her presence most strongly. I remember the excitement in her voice when she brought home a new find, the way her hands gestured as she explained its origin, and the quiet reverence with which she placed it among the others. These objects are more than art—they are a testament to her journey, her vision, and her enduring gift to us.
Her collection continues to live, not only in the pieces themselves but in the way they shaped who we are. Each time I look at the Akuaba dolls, I am reminded that legacy is not only something you inherit—it is something you carry forward. Available in Antwerp. More images on private request.
L: Akuaba Fertility Doll – Asante, Ghan | Big doll: Big ancient Ashanti doll | Akuaba Fertility Doll – Asante, Ghana (29 cm, honey patina)
About the provenance:
Nadya Levi , sculptor and And African Art collector
