Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexia Haick.

Hi Alexia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I was born in São Paulo, Brazil, where I lived for 19 years. My mother was a vendor of ophthalmic products and is now retired, and my father is a lawyer. My sister is a doctor. There weren’t many artists in my family, and I’m not sure if I was the first. Fortunately, I grew up surrounded by strong female role models. I was lucky to be around six amazing women who helped shape my vision of who I wanted to become. Both my mother and grandmother had a passion for photography, and I ended up learning it, initially out of irritation with their habit. My sister was an amateur actress, so I grew up watching her plays, which eventually led me to join that community.

From a young age, I knew I wanted to be an artist, though I struggled to choose which path. It was always between cinema, theater, and photography. To this day, I continue to transition between each of these areas. I do consider myself a theater kid. After high school, I studied filmmaking at FAAP, and later had the opportunity to study in New York for a year, which eventually turned into almost five years.

I can’t complain about where I am now. While I am no longer studying filmmaking, I am now focused more on photography. That doesn’t mean I’ve stopped making films. I enjoy creating work that reflects my obsessions. For a while, I made films about family dynamics and grief. Now, I’m exploring the female experience of sexual awakening.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?

Yes and also no. I’m not sure if I feel comfortable sharing this response, but I do consider myself an extremely privileged person. As a Brazilian who had the opportunity to study in the United States, that was a huge opportunity. I have both an immediate and chosen family who have always supported me, emotionally and financially. I wouldn’t be where I am today without the family—whether blood-related or not—who raised me.

I don’t want to go into the specifics of the struggles, but something significant changed for my family in the past. Not long after, I moved to the United States on my own. It was a challenging experience, especially since I was so young. Being away meant losing a lot. I am deeply grateful for how my parents overcome those challenges. I’m also fortunate to have chosen family members like Bete, Lena, and Tuca, who have shown me how to be a good person and helped me truly believe in my potential. I recognize how rare it is to have such a strong community, and I’m thankful to have had that support.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?

I am a photographer and filmmaker currently working on a series called To All the Nasty Ladies, which has been a deeply healing journey for me. Growing up in a Latinx Catholic household, conversations about sex and desire were often discouraged. My work explores the effects of inadequate sex education and the prevalence of misinformation. With this series, I aim to normalize these discussions and present fresh perspectives.

The series explores the female experience of sexual awakening, touching on themes of desire and guilt. Instead of portraying these emotions negatively, I use humor and vibrant colors to capture their complexities in intimate still-life and portrait scenes. Each image highlights pivotal moments in a woman’s life—from first crushes and discovering masturbation to losing her virginity and facing societal judgment. By deconstructing taboos with sarcasm, I seek to make these topics more relatable and accessible.

I’m incredibly grateful to have received the Darrel Ellis Award for this project, a grant from his family and School of Visual Arts that is helping me bring it to completion. I couldn’t be more honored to receive an award in his name.

Recently, I premiered my film “Deixe-me Ir” at the New York Brazilian Film Festival. It was an honor to showcase the film alongside such incredible filmmakers. The black-and-white film poignantly explores grief, focusing on the silent yet powerful portrayal of a mother and daughter. Regarding the Festival, I also had the opportunity to lead a photography workshop at ASP, an incredible organization in Brazil that develops art projects and offers education for children and teenagers. I am very grateful to Laura Barker and Daniela Machado for the opportunity.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?

I wouldn’t say I’ve reached that point in my career yet, but I hope to get there soon. However, I believe the most important quality for success is being honest and kind to yourself. It’s essential to do work that fulfills you, if possible, and, most importantly, to have patience. Everyone has their own timeline. It’s also important to celebrate the small victories along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://alexiahaick.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hms.fotografia/

Image Credits

Helene Sage
Luá Amaral
Alexia Haick