Painter and mixed media artist, Marlon Lainez completed his undergraduate program from Queens College with an Art Education degree, in 2015. He later returned to Queens College to receive his Masters in Fine Arts in 2017. Lainez’s work has focused on immigration and the Latino communities that have been affected by political climate. Knowing that he has had the privilege to be first generation born from Salvadoran parents, he feels compelled to lend his voice for the Latino community through his artwork. Lainez’s paintings refer to traditional folk art of Latin America, but with modern immigration issues as the focal point. His color palette is a major staple in the works; which refers to childhood innocence and to the indigenous people of Central America. Lainez is constantly finding the balance of pushing the heavy issue of Latin representation in bright and inviting paintings.