About

Marissa Anne Ayala is a writer, researcher, and multi-disciplinary artist based in Austin, TX. Her work explores the dynamic relationship between self and place, delving into the intersections of cultural identity, societal influence, and the act of breaking away. She is deeply invested in understanding how individuals define themselves in relation to the places they inhabit—whether physical, cultural, or psychological.

Marissa was awarded an Artist Residency at Chulitna Lodge in Alaska, where she will conduct eco-conscious fieldwork that will serve as the foundation for a gallery installation and a hybrid narrative text. She also participated in the grant-funded research and writing project Errant Elements, conducting art-based and cultural research in Marfa, Texas. This work led to a sound art performance and will culminate in a forthcoming chapbook.

Invited by the Smithsonian Institution’s Archives of American Art, Marissa conducted primary research on the writings and works of key color theory artists, deepening her understanding of color theory and its psychological impact. She held a year-long teaching artist residency at Pen + Brush Gallery, where she led creative writing workshops using visual art as a tool for exploring themes like gender equality and the power of literature in shaping social change.

Her work has been featured in Poets & Writers magazine, Pen + Brush Literary Magazine, Fugue, Poets of Queens Anthology, and more. She founded the East Austin Writing Project, a volunteer-driven initiative providing equitable access to literary arts programming for the community.