Marla Cruz Linares (Marla XL) is an illustrator shaped by movement, geography and color. Born in Cuba, having lived across different territories and now based in Florence, she carries a multicultural sensibility that flows naturally into her work — vibrant palettes, clear narratives and a deep curiosity for the world.
Her illustrations explore the meeting point between beauty and everyday life, translating ideas into images that feel accessible and emotionally resonant. A background in design and a life lived across cultures give her a warm, curious and unmistakably narrative visual voice. Rhythm, composition and storytelling guide her process, inviting viewers to pause, look closer and connect.
Outside the studio, Marla finds balance in nature — from mountain peaks to the bottom of the sea. That relationship with movement, landscape and quiet observation continually shapes the way she sees and the way she draws.
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2023 — Merit Winner, 3x3 International Illustration Awards — Self‑Promotion, US
2023 — Merit Winner, 3x3 International Illustration Awards — Packaging, US
2023 — Honorable Mention, Aveiro Jovem Criador, PT
2022 — Merit Award, iJungle Illustration Awards, CN
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2025 — Guimarães Illustration Biennial, PT
2024 — Ibero-American Illustration Biennial, MX
2024 — Brillo Magazine, IT
2024 — 2023 — Annual Awards — Autori di Immagini, IT
2024 — 2022 São João da Madeira’s Biennial Illustration , PT
2022 — 2023 — Aveiro Jovem Criador, PT
2021 — 3x3 Magazine, Issue No. 18, US
2021 — Latinoamérica vive en mí, Book No. 15, AR
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2025 — 5th Guimarães Illustration Biennial, PT
2024 — Ibero-American Illustration Biennial, MX
2024 — 15th São João da Madeira’s Biennial Illustration , PT
2023 — Cartoline dalla Toscana, IT
2023 — La Città di Carta Festival, IT
2023 — Mostra Collettiva — BeDesign Week, IT
2023 — Aveiro Jovem Criador, PT
2022 — Babalungas i Kamalongos, ES
2022 — 14th São João da Madeira’s Biennial Illustration Meeting, PT
2022 — Aveiro Jovem Criador, PT
2021 — 3rd Ilustrofest, RS
2020 — 9th Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID) ES
2017 — 25 Sabrosos Carteles Iberoamericanos — Madrid Gráfica, ES
2017 — Guernica de Picasso, 80 Years!, CU
2016 — 5th Ibero-American Design Biennial (BID), ES
2016 — 1st Havana Design Biennial, CU
Get in touch and see what's new:
From Maps to Murals to Magazines (and everything in between) I'm always open to discussing new opportunities or collaborations.
Clients I’ve worked with
