Naya de Souza

aka LUX VENÉREA, the @Bundaskanzlerin of Germany

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, performance art, comedy/stand-up, and cooking. Multilingual by birth and transdisciplinary by heritage, Naya's body of work refuses the concept of "border", 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. Mostly as "Lux Venérea" or under her own name (Google them separate :P), Naya's work has been showcased in at least 10 countries, gracing prestigious international venues including. Haus der Kulturen der Welt, Hebbel Am Ufer 1&2, Kampnagel, Martin Gropius Bau, Gorki Theater, Kammerspiele in Munich, Belvedere Theater in Vienna, CCBA Barcelona, Deichtorhallen Hamburg, 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, founded by former Michelin star chef Dalad Khambu and the legend Rirkrit Tiravanija. Naya's culinary philosophy extends beyond the kitchen, viewing food as a catalyst for social cohesion. She has hosted events at prestigious venues such as C/O Gallery Berlin and Berlinische Gallerie. Additionally, Naya is recognized for her contributions as an educator and HIV rights advocate, collaborating with esteemed institutions including AIDSHILFE (Berlin, Mittelhessen, Zurich), Checkpoint, MigrationsRat, and Les Migras. She has also been a guest teacher in renowned universities such as UDK, FHNW Basel, HWR Berlin, and Willem de Kooning Academy.