LEAH LARA (they/them) is a Black nonbinary puppeteer and 3-D illustrator from Dallas, TX. They received their BFA in 2023 from Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where they majored in Illustration. Their work often investigates the Black femme experience while drawing on dark and whimsical fairy tale archetypes and themes. A proud Puppet Council elder and community art advocate, they’ve organized puppet workshops, slams, plays, and interactive play sessions across Chicago. A 2023-24 Chicago Puppet Lab cohort member and 2024 Dark Matter Residency alum, they’ve performed at RoughHouse Theatre, Color Club, Links Hall, Co-Prosperity, the Woman of Color Fringe Festival, and have been published by Gush Magazine. Leah loves working with their hands, baking, and making extensive and specific slideshows about things. They stick to the commitment of writing, producing, and performing at least one puppet show a year.
Bio as of 03/2025
Photo by Loren Toney