Last year, Exponent started an annual art scholarship for Mormon women of color. The goal of the scholarship continues to be to amplify the voices of LDS women artists of color by lending needed support for them to be able to continue to develop their art.

Over the next few weeks, we will be sharing the work and words of some of the recipients of that scholarship. These extraordinary women have the ability to seismically change the artistic language of the Church: imagine Come Follow Me manuals, Church members’ homes or Church building hallways full of their work. We’re grateful that they shared it with this community and look forward to announcing this year’s scholarship very soon. If you’d like to contribute to the fund for this year’s scholarship, please contact exponentiihttps://exponentii.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5173-scaled-1.jpg AT gmail DOT com.

Marlena Wilding: Marlena Wilding is the creative mom artist behind La Mere Clothing. Marlena is from Washington State, and currently lives in Utah. She received her B.A in Visual Arts and art education license from Brigham Young University in 2014. Marlena is a former Art Educator for troubled youth and a former Special Ed Case Manager before she gave birth to her beautiful baby boy. And currently the driving force behind La Mere. Marlena struggled with PPD and nursing shortly after she had her baby boy, and wanted to find a solution to help make mom-hood and breastfeeding easier, thus La Mere was created. Marlena dreams of doing a series on the Creation, Adam and Eve, and Christ.