Erika Nina Suarez

Erika Nina Suárez (b.1993) is an American photographer born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL. She was brought up in a multigenerational household with her Hungarian mother, Nicaraguan father, and maternal grandparents. Erika's family sought asylum in the United States in the early 1980s in order to escape enlistment to the frontlines of the Contra War in Nicaragua and to flee from the collapse of the Hungarian People's Republic. Erika's upbringing and her family's unique lifestyle have significantly influenced her style and how she chooses to approach her practice. 

Suárez's ongoing personal project Left of the Stream, Between Two Mountains, is rooted in her desire to reconnect with Hungarian culture and her ancestry that her mother and grandparents were forced to abandon. Living a culturally split existence between America and Hungary, Suárez pairs a personal visual sequence of century-old Hungarian village traditions alongside intimate portraits of her extended family members abroad, and immediate family living in the US. Utilizing medium and large format film as her great-grandfather once did, she captures her subjects with the paralleling intent of her ancestors by using photography to eternally preserve their physical existence.

Erika is currently living and working between Hungary, NYC, and Texas.

Selected clients include The Wall Street Journal, NPR, The Dallas Morning News, and the University of Texas Systems.

Erika is also a recipient of the 2021  Arch and Anne Giles Kimbrough Fund awarded by the Dallas Museum of Art and is a member of The Luupe and the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA).
 

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY 

The University of Texas at Arlington / Arlington, TX / April 2021 – Present 

 This role is a multifaceted, client-facing position that is responsible for capturing, retouching, delivering, and archiving a wide range of digital assets for the University of Texas at Arlington’s Multimedia, Marketing, and Messaging teams. Consistent collaboration with art directors, writers, graphic designers, freelance photographers, and illustrators. This role is creatively driven, with a focus on brand engagement and visual storytelling strategies for magazines, news stories, and ad campaigns. Photoshoots are executed on-campus, in studio, and off-site photo shoots. 

• Coordinated and produced ad imagery in collaboration with PepsiCo in March, 2023
• 2023 CASE Award winner for Photography•Appointed by the Wall Street Journal to capture featured imagery of Epidemiologist Dr. Erin Carlson, 2022
• Led creative direction for all client facing publications in 2022-2023•Optimized, upgraded, and provided routine maintenance of state-of-the-art studio photo equipment, including Nikon z9 cameras and Profoto/Godox Lighting Kits
• Led cover shoot and implemented a fresh creative direction for UTA Magazine‘s Summer 2021 issue within 2 weeks of starting position•Coordinated multiple shoots in collaboration with the Dallas Morning News

DIGITAL PROGRAMMING AND CURATORIAL FELLOW 

Arts Fort Worth / Fort Worth, TX / June 2020 – April 2021 

Produced and edited supplemental video content for viewers to easily access online. Hosted artist discussions and juried panels through inclusive digital formats. Edited and delivered digital image files promptly following special events and opening exhibition receptions to be utilized for promotional and archival use. Cataloged photographed artworks for internal archiving. Coordinated social media platform reach and engagement by data monitoring. 

• •Organized promotional photography with the Fort Worth Star-Telegram
• •Partnered with another 501(c) non-profit to aid in curating the 4th AnnualSmall Works Show (11/20)
• •Designed new networking opportunities and online resources for local artists to showcase themselves via zoom interviews
• •Spearheaded redesign and total reconstruction of the Arts Fort Worth website for their rebranding mission
• •Panel member for annual So-Cur proposal reviews 

DIGITAL IMAGING SPECIALIST 

Coupralux/Dallas, Texas/ November 2019 - March 2020

Concentrated expertise in digital color management, editing, file management, and giclée
printing of image-based materials for blue chip artists across the United States. Seasoned
in the utilization of Adobe Suite Software to execute editing a wide array of artwork,
including photographic images.

• Specialized proficiency in digital color management, retouching, and photo
manipulation
Tailored close creative collaboration with clients and regional galleries
• Optimized Better Light Scanning and image transfer procedures for giclée
printing process
• Oversaw printing and installation of photographic images for Hrair Sarkissian’s
Focus exhibition at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth (1/20)

Bachelor of Fine Arts, Photography

the University of North Texas 

2016-2019