About Me ٩(◕‿◕。)۶

Artistic Focus

Damaris Guzman is an interdisciplinary new media artist whose practice transforms screen light into embodied experience. Working across 3D animation, projection mapping, net art, browser based media, and digital fabrication, she produces hyperreal moving images and interactive environments where liquid chrome textures ripple across fluid meshes, luminous simulations bloom into organic forms, and pixels begin to pulse like living tissue. Guided by posthuman theory, Guzman approaches circuitry as soft tissue and perception as already augmented, examining how technological systems quietly infiltrate the body, reshape identity, and alter human agency.


Her work moves between dopamine charged intensity and meditative stillness, balancing the hypnotic pull of instant gratification against slower moments of reflection and bodily awareness. Childhood nostalgia collides with glossy digital aesthetics as dial up dreams, browser artifacts, and net art sensibilities merge with immersive projections and high definition render passes. Through these multisensory narratives, she dissolves distinctions between synthetic and natural, virtual and physical, asking viewers to confront the unstable boundary where flesh and interface begin to mirror one another.


Guzman's practice investigates technological embodiment, posthuman identity, hyperreality, and the psychological tension between autonomy and algorithmic influence, questioning whether we truly steer our devices or whether invisible systems quietly steer us in return.


If a dream rises from the subconscious and an algorithm grows from your clicks and inclinations, both drift beneath awareness, quietly guiding daily choices long before you sense their pull; pause inside that waking dream and claim ownership of what comes next.


Damaris Guzman earned her BFA in Film and Digital Media from the University of California, Santa Cruz and is currently an MFA candidate and Teaching Associate in Digital Media Art at San José State University.

Education

2024 - Present

Master of Fine Arts in Digital Media

San José State University

2nd year | Teaching Associate

2022 - 2024

Bachelor of Arts in Film & Digital Media

University of California, Santa Cruz

GPA: 3.5

2018 - 2021

Associate of Arts in Photography

Cabrillo College, Watsonville

2018 - 2021

Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts

Cabrillo College, Watsonville

Experience

Jan 2025 - Present

Graduate Teaching Associate

San José State University · Part-time · On-site

I'm currently teaching Art 74: Intro to Digital Media. The course emphasizes creative thinking, problem-solving, and computer literacy, introducing diverse software tools, including Adobe Creative Cloud, open‑source platforms, and emerging technologies like 3D printing workflows, to produce artworks for both print and web. Students will complete a series of short projects focused on topics such as glitch art, meme culture, net art, and code as a creative medium, culminating in a final project and a professional portfolio that highlights both their technical mastery and their ability to critically discuss their creative practice.

Skills: Higher Education Teaching, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Creative Cloud, 3D Printing, Digital Media

Aug 2024 - Dec 2024

Graduate Teaching Assistant

San José State University

Taught undergraduates by leading on-screen demonstrations and guiding them through audio MaxMSP tutorials.

Skills: MaxMSP, Visual Programming

Jan 2023 - May 2024

Gaffer, Camera Operator, and Actor

UMF UMakeFilms · Internship · Hybrid

UMakeFilms is a student-governed film collective at UCSC. I've worked on set as a boom operator, managed lighting setups, operated cameras, and performed in films.

Skills: Production Assistance, Camera Operation, Lighting, Acting

Mar 2022 - Dec 2022

Special Education Instructional Aide

Live Oak School District · Part-time · On-site

As a special education aide for elementary school children, I provided individualized support and assistance to students with special needs, adapting teaching materials and methods to meet their unique learning styles. Additionally, I helped manage behavior, promoted a positive classroom environment, and provided personal care when necessary. I contributed as an aide for students' academic and personal growth, ensuring they received the support they needed to succeed.

Skills: Spanish Translation, Interpersonal Skills, Special Education, Behavior Management

Mar 2021 - Mar 2022

Retail Operations Associate

Ross Stores, Inc. · Full-time · On-site

I managed customer service and cash transactions with speed and accuracy, consistently earning the highest cashier processing score (CPU) in the store; 120%–130%. I also supported store security operations when needed, assisting with loss-prevention awareness and maintaining a safe environment for customers and staff. In addition to working the dressing rooms and stocking in the back, I regularly handled responsibilities on the sales floor, ensuring merchandise was organized, accessible, and visually appealing. These roles strengthened my ability to multitask, remain calm under pressure, and provide reliable support across multiple departments.

Skills: Customer Service, Cash Handling, Point of Sale, Inventory Management, Loss Prevention

May 2018 - Oct 2018

Key Production Assistant and Video Editor

Digital NEST · Internship · Hybrid

I was Key Production Assistant during the production of the short film Service with a Smile. This included working closely with all teams and assisting each one when needed. As a video editor, I was responsible for assembling the footage, selecting the best shots, and creating a coherent and visually appealing sequence for the film. I also had the opportunity to edit some visual effects such as a hologram for a related music video called "Worker's Truth" by Kabwasa.

Skills: After Effects, Video Editing, Production Assistance, Visual Effects

Jan 2018 - Jun 2018

Social Media Content Creator

Project Pollinate · Internship · Hybrid

I filmed and edited media to enlighten viewers on what the program had to offer. I filmed and photographed events, advertisements, interviews, etc.

Volunteer Experience

Nov 2017 - Apr 2018

Line Cook

Teen Kitchen · Health

Prepared and assisted in cooking nutritious, health-conscious meals for cancer patients and individuals with dietary restrictions. Supported kitchen operations by following food safety standards, maintaining a clean workspace, and working collaboratively with a team to ensure meals were prepared accurately and on time.

Skills: Food Preparation, Food Safety, Kitchen Operations, Teamwork

Jan 2007 - Jun 2015

Publisher / Auxiliary Pioneer

Jehovah's Witnesses · Education

Regularly led door-to-door and public outreach campaigns, engaging diverse audiences, offering educational literature, and coordinating home visits for follow-up discussions. Elevated to Auxiliary Pioneer, committing increased volunteer hours and collaborating closely with seasoned pioneers and former missionaries. The role honed my public-speaking, interpersonal communication, research, and time-management skills through tailored presentations, schedule planning, and stewardship of a substantial volunteer workload.

Skills: Public Speaking, Interpersonal Communication, Research, Time Management, Leadership

Solo Exhibitions

Nov 2025

Every day I see my dream

Black Gallery

Group Exhibitions

2026

FRAGMENTS

Black Gallery, San Jose [SJSU]

2025 - 2026

Stephanie Dinkins: Data Trust

ICA, San Jose, CA

2025

Convergence

Jo Farb Gallery, San Jose, CA

2024

Glow

Black Gallery, San Jose [SJSU]

2017

Interwebs

Digital Nest, Watsonville, CA

Awards

2019

Best Short Film

United Latino International Film Festival

Sequence editor

2018

Valedictorian

Diamond Technology Institute

2018

Student of the Year

PVUSD

Skills

  • Video Editing (After Effects, Premiere Pro)
  • 3D Modeling + Animation (Blender)
  • Projection Mapping (MadMapper, Resolume Avenue)
  • Digital Fabrication (3D printing / Laser cutting / CNC)
  • Web Design (HTML, CSS, p5.js)
  • Cinematography + Videography
  • Photography (Studio + Outdoor, Portrait, Event)
  • Boom Operation
  • Sound Editing (ProTools)
  • Content Creation & Social Media Management
  • Higher Education Teaching
  • Team Leadership / Production Coordination / Pattern Recognition

Contact

Email: damaris.guzman@sjsu.edu

Instagram: @grill0101

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damaris-guzman-0101/