brianamelia
Biography
Briana Vargas lives in Texas, where she is an arts administrator in the realm of fine art conservation and makes photos for news publications and gallery spaces. Her photographic practice delves into themes of home, tradition, and cultural preservation with a documentary style that tinges naturalistic narratives with dreamlike elements, striving to recognize the impact of the historical present. Her background in photojournalism, international relations, and bilingual writing and rhetoric fuels her devotion to the American Southwest borderland, languages, and storytelling.
CV
Education
MA in Arts Leadership | University of Houston, 2025
BA in Government, Minor in Latin American Studies | University of Texas at Austin, 2017
Workshops & Residencies
Magnum Photos | On Communities Masterclass with Yael Martínez, 2024
Willow House | Artist Residency, Session II, 2023
Fotofilmic | Creative Immersion Workshop Retreat with Cristina de Middel, Mark Neville & Joanna Milter, 2020
Boreal Collective | Boreal Bash V Photojournalism Workshop, Coxcatlán, San Luis Potosi, 2018
Solo Exhibitions
“Dicen”, Houston Center for Photography, May 2021
Group Exhibitions
“El Santo Niño Project Benefit Exhibition”, The Hood, Las Cruces, New Mexico, December 2024
“Stick ‘Em Up Showcase”, FLATS, Houston, Texas, November 2024
“Entre Mundos”, Casa Luz, Houston, Texas, October 2024
“Love Letters”, Nova Gallery, El Paso, Texas, August 2024
“Interwoven”, FLATS, Houston, Texas, June 2024
“Raices”, Casa Luz, Houston Texas, May 2024
“19 Ojos: Una colaboración con Xingaderas”, Nova Gallery, El Paso, Texas, February 2024
“Admit One”, FLATS, Houston, Texas, July 2023
“2022 Print Auction Exhibition”, Houston Center for Photography, March 2022
Awards & Acknowledgements
2025 Latino CARTographies Artist Registry, University of Houston CMALS
2022 FotoFest Biennial Portfolio Review, Selected Attendee
2020 Carol Crow Memorial Fellowship Award Winner, Houston Center for Photography
2019 Joan Holt & Roger Wich Emerging Photographer, Houston Center for Photography
2017 Maymester in Prague: Documentary Photography Storytelling Scholarship Recipient, University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism and Media
contact me
Houston based. Available for arts, culture, and politics editorial and reportage assignments throughout Texas and in Northern Mexico.