Mariana Souza (b. 1997) was born in São Paulo, Brazil and is now based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. She is currently pursuing a BFA in Photography and Media Art at The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Her work explores the human ability of adaptation and transformation, always considering anxieties and limitations of the flesh. She uses the sense of home to create narratives on navigating through different cultures, allowing herself to embrace contradictions of her own identity. Balancing the struggles to keep memories of her home country alive and molding herself to fit a new culture, the artist uses her own experiences to explore racism, rejection, decolonization, and memory. Belonging to different minorities—a female from South America—Mariana highlights feelings of inferiority and the importance of deconstruction in Western societies in order to open territories restricted to "outsiders."

Her process includes diverse mediums, allowing the artist to explore her subjects in different perspectives and environments.

Education

Bachelor of Fine Arts - Photography and Media Art, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2020

Publications

“Gaze”, Sequoya Review, 2018

“INDYKIDZ”, Dezine Magazine, 2017

Group Exhibitions

“Letterpress Pinup Show” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN 2019

“Full Bleed” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2019

“UTC Department of Art Juried Student Exhibition” Cress Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2019

“Fabric and the Human Experience” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2018

“Society for Photographic Education Student Pinup Exhibition” Gallery 229 (Louisiana State University), Baton Rouge, LA, 2018

“Light Sensitive” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2018

“Full Bleed” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2018

“UTC Department of Art Juried Student Exhibition” Cress Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2018

“Underground Takeover” Art Trap Collective, Chattanooga, TN, 2017

“In The Studio” Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga, TN, 2017

“#EastSideInstameet” Modern East Gallery, Nashville, TN, 2016

Awards

Michael Connally Memorial Award, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2019-2020

Matt Haase Scholarship, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2018-2019

Dean’s List, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, 2016 - Present

Curatorial

Co-curator, Light Sensitive, Apothecary Gallery, Chattanooga TN, 2018

Professional Service

New York State Summer School of the Arts (Counselor), Alfred, NY, 2018-2019

Inter-State Studio (Photographer), Nashville, TN, 2016