who is she?

Mariangela Serrano, known professionally as Mari, is a Venezuelan-born photographer whose work is rooted in intimacy, memory, and emotional storytelling. Raised in Táchira, Venezuela, Mari grew up surrounded by cameras, encouraged by her grandmother to explore photography as both play and personal expression. What began as childhood self-portraits—dressing up, embodying characters, experimenting with identity—evolved into a lifelong artistic language.

At seventeen, Mari immigrated to the United States, navigating the complexities of displacement and reinvention at a young age. During this transformative period, photography became more than a creative outlet; it became an anchor. Since 2014, she has developed an ongoing body of self-portraiture that explores nostalgia, grief, resilience, romance, heartbreak, and the quiet in-between moments that shape us. Her work reflects the emotional landscape of migration and memory, capturing vulnerability with honesty and refinement.

Mari’s eye is detail-oriented and deeply intuitive. She has a natural sensitivity to atmosphere—light on skin, subtle gestures, fleeting expressions—allowing her to transform everyday moments into cinematic, emotionally resonant images. Her approach blends documentary authenticity with a poetic softness, creating photographs that feel both personal and universally relatable.

Passionate about storytelling, Mari delights in uncovering beauty in the smallest details. Whether through portraiture or conceptual work, she strives to create images that make people feel seen, understood, and remembered.