Leequette Santiago, artistically known as Lala, is an American Canadian painter that is interested in how we navigate multiculturalism, parenthood and daily encounters. Born in Miami, Florida, Santiago’s work explores her identity, spirituality and parental outlook through a mixture of traditional mediums and mixed media. Having a knack for story telling, her perspective navigates the viewers to a side of southern black culture that is rarely seen. Santiago’s work embraces established techniques while experimenting with new processes and approaches. The result fiddles with forms, lighting and layered bits of hidden meanings that combine the expressive perspectives of multicultural upbringing and current parental norms, illustrating the need for self awareness and boundaries.

Santiago has been awarded with the Emerging Artist Award presented by Culture Counts (2021) as well as the Robert McLaughlin Award presented by Cultural Expressions (2023). She has taught lessons to children and adults throughout Durham Region and currently hosts “Paint Afternoons” as part of the Tea and Talk program at the Clarington Library and Museum of Archives. She is an active member of the Oshawa Arts Association and her work can be found as part of the 42nd Juried Art Show at the Visual Arts Centre in Clarington.