All About
Marla Lou.
“The role of the artist is to make the revolution irresistible.”
- Toni Cade Bambara
Marla Louissaint (menace/goddexx/pharaoh) aka Marla Lou is a Haitian born truth-telling Culture Worker harnessing their power to define the future Black history and making the revolution irresistible.
Through their culture work in the arts and community care, Marla ignites to make the revolution irresistible by centering pleasure and radical imagination to dream and build beyond the current late-stage capitalist reality. As a first generation Computer Science graduate (Fordham University '20), they use their systems oriented brain to think dynamically and co-create emergent community led solutions. They joyfully invite the global Black community to fully realize and claim their sovereignty to shape our future history. As a multi-powered artist and luminary, their work serves to open a portal inviting all to launch their own ritualized healing journey towards liberation for the collective's survival.
Sovereignty, transformation, and an unapologetic exploration of pleasure are the dynamic currents vibrating in Marla’s genre-full body of work. Their mission to make the revolution irresistible fiercely shines through their work as reclamations of self, space, and spirit. Like their Haitian ancestors, all of their liberation visions manifest through daily testimony as a modern-day griot breathing life into the revolution.
Meet the Team
Latesha harris
LaTesha Harris is a feral body, abolitionist, and writer. A Texan and Northwestern alumna, they believe in travel and education as foundations for change. They hope their work as the Marla Louniverse Weaver facilitates a collective breaking of chains and creates coalitions built on radical thought. Her writing and efforts have blessed NPR, Variety, Bitch Media, ADI Magazine, Okayplayer, and other publications. When they're not dreaming of better worlds, LaTesha is roleplaying a smelly halfling, dashing through airports, supporting their local library, being asked to tone it down in theaters, dining on something delicious, and making love.
Marc ella
Marc Ella has crafted visuals for the Marla Louniverse since August of 2023. Their process involves in-depth research and continual optimization to build a recognizably revolutionary style that matches the energy of Marla themself. Beyond their work as a designer, Marc Ella is an educator and coffee roaster, and they enjoy lifting weights, and playing tabletop RPGs.
Coco Villa
Coco Villa is a movement director, dancer, interdisciplinary artist, and community builder. In addition to their artistry, they have spent the past decade helping people develop new processes, tools, and habits. Coco’s organizational support is clear, practical and always infused with care. When they’re not working on their own projects or being a spreadsheets freak as a Pillar for the Marla Louniverse, they are swimming in the ocean, making exquisite meals, and taking siestas.
Image by Toni Esposito.
Mente
Mente is a Dominico-Taiwanese artist and multimedia producer. With a background in Univision and 9 years of multimedia production, their work educates and entertains audiences using satire, music, and other forms of art to address relevant social issues in Latin America and around the world. They serve as the Mirror (digital producer) in the Louniverse, helping Marla reflect to the outer world what their vision of the world could be. In the world Mente enjoys yapping and being a jack of all trades -- also dabbling in event production, podcasting, dance, ballroom, film, and occasionally roasting colonizers.
Jasmine Oswalt
Jasmine Oswalt is the first and original member of Team Marla Lou, working with them since August of 2021. She ensures that the whole Marla Louniverse runs smoothly, from organizing meetings and events, to engaging with clients, and much more. She has two B.A.s in Criminal Justice and English Literature, and her primary passions are research, literature, and curation. She’s most excited to build Marla Lou as a brand, creative force, and Luminary!
grace incarnate
grace incarnate is a weaver of divine transmissions who sees liberation of the self as the true portal to collectively liberating all beings. This embodiment cannot be described by what they have done or will do, but rather by what they are: unlimited.
Jules Kulaya
Jules Kulaya is a Puerto Rican / Czechoslovakian designer, artisan, & ethnobotanist born and raised in NYC. They’ve cultivated a 13 year professional career in costume design & production, traversing through stage & screen. This lived experience heavily impacts their driving ethos rooted in play, healing & advocacy for the global majority, LGBTQIA+ and disabled communities. Leaning into their purpose, they teach classes ranging from breathwork, to agua de Florida ceremonies, and printmaking. They foster Kulayascope: a holistic brand and organize community liberation.
