Marlené Nancy Lopez
2023 UCLA Activist-in-Residence at cityLAB • CrewNative
Born and raised in MacArthur Park, Los Angeles Marlené realized her calling to serve her community at an early age. After studying Political Science at CSULA, she served in the US Peace Corps in the Republic of Moldova. During this time, she observed how art could be used to serve communities specifically through muralism, storytelling and multimedia.
She continued studying the intersection between humanitarian aid and art during her Master’s degree program from the Paris' School of International Affairs, Sciences PO. When she returned home she pursued her passions of community building and art. Since 2016, Marlené has coordinated / participated in over eighty city-wide art activations and murals as a lead teaching artist with organizations such as: HOLA, LA Commons, CHIRLA, GRYD, POV, City of Los Angeles, DCA, Barnsdall Arts, Art Share LA, and her collective CrewNative. Marlené aspires to be an accomplished Public Art artist and community engagement specialist to serve the city she loves and celebrate the cultures that create it.
Marlené is one of four 2023 UCLA Activists-in-Residence, and the inaugural Activist-in-Residence at cityLAB. To learn more about the program and about 2023 Activists-in-Residence Steve Diaz, Josiah Edwards (at UCLA Luskin Institute on Inequality and Democracy), and Melissa Acedera (at UCLA Asian American Studies Center), please visit our partner’s site.