LEAD ARTIST & ART PARTNER

Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton

Marquis “Ten Thousand” Burton is a(n) visual artist, decorate spoken word, writer and educator. He has partnered with Shea’s Performing Arts and other non-profit and educational institutions to teach young adults and children to not only discover their voices but also the power within to use it for over a decade. He has coached the Buffalo poetry teams at the National Poetry Slams to Top 10 finishes in the 2 out of 4 years. Marquis has also held the position of curator of poetry talent for the Music Is Art Festival for the past 6 years. Since 2016, he has partnered with artist Tara Sasiadeck to create visual art installations for events such as Music Is Art Festival. Since 2019, he has partnered with Naila Ansari to create immersive interactive dance and poetry experiences that explore joy in play, resistance, community and self.