Marla Cruz Linares (Marla XL) is an illustrator shaped by movement, geography and color. Born in Cuba, having lived across different territories in Portugal, and now based in Florence, Italy, 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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2026, 2024, 2023 — Annual Awards, Autori di Immagini, IT
2025 — Guimarães Illustration Biennial, PT
2024 — Ibero-American Illustration Biennial, MX
2024 — Brillo Magazine, 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
