Marlena started painting with acrylic in 2013, shortly after she evolved her paintings by beading through the canvas using seed beads and the lane stitch. She has since then created numerous paintings and participated in several exhibitions throughout the Valley, including Entre Nosotros at the Beehive and her solo exhibition “777” at One Stop gallery in downtown Phoenix. Her paintings have a voice embedded in them to speak the truth in the face of discrimination and inequality. Raising awareness for those who no longer have a voice during a time when materialism and chains have dominated our engird. Her artistic objective has been to help the people find balance through awarenesses and expressive pieces.