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.
San José State University
2nd year | Teaching Associate
University of California, Santa Cruz
GPA: 3.5
Cabrillo College, Watsonville
Cabrillo College, Watsonville
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
San José State University
Taught undergraduates by leading on-screen demonstrations and guiding them through audio MaxMSP tutorials.
Skills: MaxMSP, Visual Programming
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
Black Gallery
Black Gallery, San Jose [SJSU]
ICA, San Jose, CA
Jo Farb Gallery, San Jose, CA
Black Gallery, San Jose [SJSU]
Digital Nest, Watsonville, CA
United Latino International Film Festival
Sequence editor
Diamond Technology Institute
PVUSD
Email: damaris.guzman@sjsu.edu
Instagram: @grill0101
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/damaris-guzman-0101/