Val Souza (São Paulo, 1985) holds a master's degree in dance from the Federal University of Bahia and predominantly works in performance. She approached her artistic practice through the study of philosophy, cultural studies, and a strong interest in the history and iconography of Black women, which fuels her work. Her practice incorporates photography, video, and installation through a continuous exploration of self-exposure and subjectivity. In 2020, she received the ZUM Photography Grant from the Moreira Salles Institute. In 2022, she was the winner and received an honorable mention in the Creative Life Before Colonialism competition by Place Africa/Black Academy in partnership with Goethe Mannheim. That same year, she participated in the exhibitions "Against Memory: 100 Years of Modernism" at the Municipal Theater of São Paulo and "For a Long Time, I Believed I Was Free" at the Tomie Ohtake Institute. She also took part in the exhibition "Negros na Piscina" in partnership with the Solar Photography Festival and the Pinacoteca do Ceará. In 2023, she was selected for the New Photography Program at MIS/SP (Museum of Image and Sound of São Paulo).