Shanaya Herrera Vega
Shanaya Herrera Vega (Havana, September 3, 2001) is a visual artist, photographer, and cultural manager. She resides in San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Arts at the University of the Arts (ISA). She is the founder, Creative Director, and Head of Operations of the Cuban brand MAI MA, a project that brings together art, design, and contemporary cultural production.
Her academic background includes secondary education and extensive training through specialized courses and workshops in photography, design, and cultural management, completed at institutions such as the Havana School of Creative Photography (EFCH), the University of the Arts (ISA), the National Academy of Fine Arts “San Alejandro,” UNEAC, the National Design Office (ONDI), and the Padre Félix Varela Cultural Center. Her training covers photographic language, lighting, large-format photography, curatorial practice, photobooks, the art market, and artistic communication, as well as national and international internships related to design and project management.
In the exhibition field, she presented her solo exhibition “I” (2023) at the Museo-Casa de la Obra Pía and has participated in numerous group exhibitions between 2021 and 2024, both in Cuba and on online platforms. Her photographic work has been shown in significant spaces and initiatives such as the 15th Havana Biennial, Noviembre Fotográfico, Fábrica de Arte Cubano, the Ludwig Foundation of Cuba, specialized galleries, and thematic salons of contemporary, abstract, and expressionist art.
In parallel, she develops an active practice in cultural management and event production. She has served as general and artistic director of creative runways, fashion shows, visual arts competitions, and exhibition projects associated with the MAI MA brand, collaborating with institutions such as the Cuban Phototheque, ONDI, UNEAC, and the Ludwig Foundation. She has also carried out documentary and event photography for the Jazz Plaza Festival, embassies, and cultural venues, consolidating a professional profile that integrates artistic creation, production, cultural management, and contemporary critical thinking.
