Artist. Founder. Creative.

MarceAvelar is a multidisciplinary artist, Mexican-born based in New York City.

Marcela’s art lives at the intersection of art, music and experience, passionate about intertwined mediums. She has collaborated with various musicians from master kora player Yacouba Sissoko to 9-time Grammy Award winner Norah Jones.

MarceAvelar partnered with Grammy nominated musician Valerie June and illustrated Somebody to Love: The Story of Valerie June’s Sweet Little Baby Banjolele, a children’s book published by Third Man Records.

She is also the founder of a not-for-profit digital art collective called TheArtruist.org.

Currently, she sits on the Advisory Board as a Visual Arts Consultant of Art Bath, an immersive performance salon series, where she collaborated with Devon Teucher, ABT principal Ballerina in New York and Misheel Ganbold In Paris.

She is the first Visual Artist at Carnegie Hall, Painting Live at SongStudio 2024 hosted by Reneé Fleming changing the art world.

At the moment she is working on an immersive exhibit about mental health with original music by Pete Remm.

Her art varies from drawings, paintings, rugs, ceramics to poetry and performance.

  • “Marcela Avelar brings the words to life in these extraordinarily delicate and colorful scenes, each page a frame worthy work of art. But where the magic really lies is that the story doesn’t end..it invites children to see live music; I can imagine the excitement I would feel as a child seeing ‘the baby’ on stage, knowing the character, and feeling like now I was part of the story too.”

    HOLLY LAESSIG, MUSICIAN AND SINGER FROM LUCIUS

  • “I could not help but fall in love with Marcela Avelar’s incredible illustrations! With stunning attention to detail, the art brings this masterful story to life. Their beautiful partnership leaves readers with an unforgettable account and is great for all ages. Amazing colors and a wonderful Southern flair makes for a touching reading experience. This isn’t one to be missed!”

    READERS FAVORITE

  • “What an inspiring and generous book! Valerie’s unique lyrical spirit combined with Marcela Avelar’s beautiful illustrations perfectly capture the emotional wonders of childhood music-making and friendship. In a world that asks us all to fire up our imaginations, Somebody to Love gives us all a sense of life’s best possibilities. And what could be better than a banjolele in the middle of it all?”

    DAN + CLAUDIA ZANES, GRAMMY AWARD WINNING CHILDREN’S BOOK WRITERS AND MUSICIANS

  • "The artwork is extremely well done and caught my attention immediately. The pictures are detailed and complement the story beautifully. As for the story, I loved learning about the banjolele and all of the added information that was provided at the back of the book… This topic is one well worth sharing with children. And this book can certainly open up some good discussions.”

    PICK A GOOD BOOK BLOG

  • “[Valerie June and Marcela Avelar] have produced a lovely book that kids will adore and parents will appreciate for its unique storyline and diverse cast of characters… perfect for reading aloud at bedtime, and young audiences will love the expressive faces that are surrounded by bright, vivid colors.”

    MEMPHIS PARENT

  • "The illustrations of Marcela Avelar are arresting, combining layered drawings with colorful abstract backgrounds… An uplifting children’s story. A love of music is not necessary to enjoy the “Zing, Ting, Ring” of the writing or root for The Baby…. Somebody to Love will doubtless move young listeners and readers to consider the gifts they might give to the world.”

    NASHVILLE BOOK REVIEW