Marne Lucas (she/her/they) is a queer multidisciplinary artist and end of life doula based in Portland, Oregon whose practice spans photography, video, sculpture and collaboration. Lucas works at the intersection of art, feminism, and health, using conceptual overlaps: life’s energy, intimacy, the body, mortality and transformation. A self-taught artist, Marne’s investigations are informed by the events and emotions of the community around her, and inspired by the Dharma Art and Social Practice movements, social activism, and the End of Life Doula and palliative care movements; framed by a personal mythology on the meaning of creativity. Lucas has collaborated with artists, choreographers, dancers, musicians, art directors, activist groups, sex workers, health care and LGBTQIA non profits, and the public at large.

The Bardo ∞ Project (2015 to present) explores the arts as a form of spiritual care in collaborations with terminally ill artists and creatives nationwide to establish their legacy. Towards this endeavor she received end of life doula training under Henry Fersko Weiss/INELDA, a role that supports the dying and their families. She currently serves the Portland Metro area as a private practice doula. Caregiving, better end of life care options, and equal access to the arts are at the core of Marne’s ethos on life and art.

An infrared thermal video pioneer, Lucas uses heat-sensitive imaging technology in the Transmundane series to reference the magic and fragility of human existence and transport the viewer to an “otherworld” space within the framework of art and science. This IRT work has appeared in film festivals worldwide since 1995, beginning with her cult classic erotic film ‘The Operation’ with Jacob Pander.
Lucas is also known for intimate, stylistic, on-location photographic portraiture and nude series celebrating the body in Sitting City artist portraits, nude portraiture series, and her ongoing MLSP self-portrait series since 1997-present, predating “selfie” culture.

Lucas exhibits nationally and internationally at Plaxall Gallery (NYC), The Brand Library (Los Angeles), PICA (Oregon), Fremantle Arts Centre (Perth AU), Space Plus (Lincoln, U.K), Peltz Gallery (London), Municipal Museum of Penafiel (Portugal) and the Centre de Cultura Contemporània de Barcelona (Spain). Lucas received UMEZ Arts Engagement grants (2021, 2018) administered by the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, RACC (Oregon) project grants (2024, 2013, 2009, 2006) , and participated in an Arts/Industry artist residency (Foundry, Pottery Divisions, 2016) at the Kohler Co. (Wisconsin), the Land Art Mongolia 360• Biennial and Residency (2012), and a CentralTrak invitational residency 2012, UT Dallas (Texas). Marne served as advisory board member to Outsider Festival (2014-2015) a LGBTQIA arts non-profit in Austin, Texas, and served as URAM board member (2018-2019) for The Nest, a community health clinic by Harlem United in New York. Her background as a harm reduction activist culminated in co-curating with Teresa Dulce ( of the now defunct non profit organization Danzine) on the Sex by Sex Worker Film + Video festivals (1998, 2000) and were the first of its kind.