Naya de Souza
fka LUX VENÉREA, the "infamous" @Bundaskanzlerin of Germany & Switzerland.
Naya de Souza was born in 1991 in the Caatinga region of Brazil and grew up between Bahia and Pernambuco. 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, she has stormed the cultural scene with her multimedia cabaret performances and politically charged stand-up sets. Performing under aliases such as "Lux Venérea", 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, West Den Haag, among others. She has also been featured in renowned festivals such as Primavera Sound PRO, Berlin Art Week, Zürcher Theater Spektakel and Steirischer herbst. 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 European comission. She has also been a guest teacher in renowned universities such as UDK Berlin, FHNW Basel, HWR Berlin, and Willem de Kooning Academy.