A graduate from Neumann Institute of Design in Caracas, Venezuela, Marcela Cabrera (AKA Dahlo) obtained a degree in Graphic Design. Since then she worked in packaging, marketing, promotions, video games, product development and user interface and experience design for enterprise software. A longlife learned, since 1987, Marcela has conitnuously developed her craft as well as build, mentor and developed artists and designers as Art Director and Creative Director for companies such as Knowledge Adventure, Vivendi Universal Games, Snap TV Games and IBM.

Marcela is an award-winning illustrator whose body of work consists on over 20 books and publications. She is the Winner of the IBBY Award (Top 100 in the World) and has been the recipient of several National Public Awards, amongst others.

My fine art is the result of my re-birth as a human being and as a woman, and it is a cathartic exploration of life and the world around me. I immerse myself in my surreal and imaginary places where no judgment and compromises exist: I say what I need to say, I speak my truth, I share the stories that I’ve experienced, and I speak of the views of a unique woman living her life in her own terms. I create to talk about life’s joys, challenges and contradictions. The joy, the pain and the anguish of love and sex. I speak about humanity: The connections, disconnections, assumptions and disconnections between men, women and society. I express the bright and the dark side of life through autobiographical subjects, and use materials and techniques to express ideas through experimentation and never-ending exploration. I want to talk about the exuberant, the beautiful, and the dark side of life. My fine art whether in the form of wearable art, functional items, mixed media panels or scultpture speak about my journeys through life, hope, society and survival. Art, Design, Music and People are my nutrients, and these feed the work I create through glass, paint, images, objects and any materials that allow me to express my stories from within a deep and visceral place and express my views in rich ways I have not been able to otherwise. I do not wish to show literal depictions but visceral expressions of my points of view. I am a woman who was reborn from the ashes of a life lived, and survived over and over again.

DAHLO is a mixed media artist and designer blending graphic design, illustration, fine art, stained glass, and fusion techniques to create striking imagery and dimensional objects. Her diverse materials and trained eye yield vibrant collections full of color and movement. Highly experimental, her work weaves storytelling and found objects throughout.

Mostly self-taught, DAHLO became a musician performing as a bassist and back-up vocalist alongside well-known bay area musicians performaning for small and large audiences, including corporate events) playing an eclectic range of music from Blues, Bosanova, Jazz, Salsa, Hawaiian, Pop/Soul, Reggae, Classic, Grundge and Alternative Rock, R&B, Metal and French Rock.

Throughout her 30 years in the Creative Industry, as an illustrator, Designer and Creative Director Marcela has been recognized for her innovative work and leadership by various internal and external organizations around the world.

As Head of Creative for video Game companies and Award-Winning Children's Book Illustrator, Marcela Cabrera (DAHLO) has been involved in various industry conferences and interviewed by media about the world of creativity, research and software development.