Naya de Souza

Naya de Souza was born in 1991 in the Caatinga region of Brazil and grew up between the borders of Bahia and Pernambuco. Working under different alter-egos like "LUX VENÉREA" and "@Bundaskanzlerin," she transitions between disciplines such as performance art, comedy/stand-up, and cooking. Multilingual by birth and transdisciplinary by heritage, Naya's body of work transcends traditional boundaries, whether between disciplines, countries, or institutions. She views art as a perpetual process of immigration and translation.

Based in Berlin since 2016, Naya has stormed the cultural scene with her multimedia cabaret performances and politically charged stand-up sets. Her online "Bundaskanzlerin" serves as a social media critique of Germany's exclusionary political/art world, utilizing found footage, video collages, photography and memes to create an “anti censorship” language and tackle censored topics. With her pedagogical memes and adept teaching skills, Naya has become one of Berlin's most influential voices, sought after by art and cultural institutions aiming to engage younger and marginalized audiences in Germany.

Mostly as "Lux Venérea" or under her own name, Naya's work has been showcased in at least ten different countries, gracing prestigious international venues including Berlin institutions Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Hebbel Am Ufer 1&2, Kampnagel, Martin Gropius Bau and Gorki Theater, Kammerspiele in Munich, Belvedere Theater in Vienna, CCBA Barcelona, Deichtorhallen Hamburg and WORM Rotterdam, among others.

She has also been featured in renowned festivals such as Primavera Sound PRO, Berlin Art Week, and WienWoche. In recognition of her contributions, she was awarded the TAG DER CLUBKULTUR prize in 2023 and was a finalist nominee for the Berlin Art Prize in 2022.

With a background in gastronomy, Naya is a classically trained chef de cuisine with a degree in the field. She worked in the restaurant industry until 2021, notably at Kin Dee Berlin, established by Michelin star chef Dalad Khambu and artist and chef Rirkrit Tiravanija. While she occasionally continues her culinary pursuits, Naya's culinary philosophy extends beyond the kitchen, viewing food as a catalyst for social cohesion. She has curated events at prestigious venues such as C/O Gallery Berlin and Coin Coin Zurich.

Additionally, Naya is recognized for her contributions as an educator and HIV rights activist, collaborating with esteemed institutions including AIDSHILFE (Berlin, Mittelhessen, Zurich), Checkpoint, TriQ, MigrationsRat, and Les Migras. She has also delivered lectures at renowned universities such as UDK, HWR Berlin, and Willem de Kooning Academy.