Maria Varela’s photography focuses on civil rights, social justice, and community empowerment.

Her activism began in the mid-1950s with the Young Christian Students, continuing through her college years at Alverno College (1957–1961), where she served as student body president. In 1963 she joined the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) to assist with adult literacy projects, and by 1964 Varela was in Mississippi, working with photographer Bob Fletcher to establish a darkroom for the group’s educational materials. In 1965 she trained under Matt Heron in New Orleans, refining her skills as a photojournalist.

Varela captured key moments of the civil rights movement, including the 1966 Meredith March Against Fear and the 1967 Poor People’s Campaign in New Mexico. She also worked with Chicano and Indigenous communities on sustainable economic projects, highlighting their struggles for justice and self-sufficiency.