Marlo Wylie Brillon, Xaayłingtso (sunbeam breaking through the storm clouds) is both Cree from lesser slave lake Alberta, and Haida from Skidegate from her mother’s side, as well as Cree from her father's side. From an early age, Marlo was taught to uphold the cultural traditions of her ancestors. Primarily raised in her Haida culture, learning songs from her mother (Kalga Jaad) and performing culturally since she was six years old.

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At age 14, Marlo learned the basics of formline and how to screenprint; having extra school credits, she was able to work full-time screenprinting from age 16. Marlo is an experienced printer in both textiles and art prints. During this time she was the primary printer for Totem Design House, her mother's Indigenous apparel and home decor business.

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Marlo began creating original design work around age 17, learning Northwest coast art form from her uncle, Jesse Brillon and Andy Everson. Since 2017, she had been creating northwest coast art with the mentorship of her uncle. Marlo continues to be mentored by her uncle, as well as her partner, Karver Everson, who is an experienced Kwakwaka'wakw and K'omoks carver. More recently, Marlo got the opportunity to make a couple bentwood boxes with master bentwood box maker, Richard Sumner.

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In 2020 and 2021, Marlo has received  the YVR Art Foundation scholarship, in the emerging artist category; which greatly helped her art practice. The two completed artworks, along with the other recipients got to showcase their work at the Museum of Vancouver. 

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Additionally to art, Marlo also went to university to study Indigenous studies and Anthropology.In 2021, Marlo spent two and a half months working as the Indigenous intern at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Marlo conducted important cultural research and outreach to Northwest Coast communities to help us better describe and care for these items. Marlo contributed corrections to our catalog information based on her own cultural knowledge and what she learned from reaching out to other knowledge keepers. Through this outreach, Marlo arranged for two Haida representatives to come to DMNS. An emerging artist, Marlo was also able to share observations on materials and techniques used in carved wooden pieces from her own art practice.

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Marlo's full-time focus was completing her Bachelor of Arts at the University of Victoria, which she received in June 2022. Since completing her degree, Marlo has spent her time working on art commissions and other personal project.

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June 24th, 2022 Marlo was fortunate to show alongside her uncle, Jesse Brillon at the Haida Gwaii Museum in his show "The Mover of Metal: The Art of Dimension". The exhibition then traveled the the Bill Reid Gallery this summer (2023).

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