Kelsey Lacanilao (Lakan Ilaw) is a lesbian, Aquarius, first-generation artist born in Los Angeles by Philippine immigrants from all over Luzon Island (Pampanga, Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, Abra, Batangas).

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She started making jewelry as amulets, and as a way of feeling more connected with the Earth & her body - to adorn it with self-made, carefully collected natural objects, beads, and findings. 

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Tulá means "poem" in Tagalog. In this spirit, Tula Designs became a practice, offering gingerly handcrafted adornments inspired by the natural world, heritage and the lyrical human body. 

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In addition to creating, she works full time at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and with Kailukuan School of Indigenous Science. She is a former Seattle independent bookseller and loves collecting many things - from knick knacks, sacred objects, shells and rocks to rare books & even tatus on her body. She currently resides in Long Beach with her life partner, 2 rescue pit bulls, 2 rescue cats + rare crested gecko.​

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