ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd ˈeɪɾi ˈeɪt, ʃiː bɪɡˈæn ɡɹˈædʒuːət stˈʌdiz æt ðə jˌuːnɪvˈɜːsᵻɾi ʌv ˌɪlənˈɔɪ æɾ ɜːbˈɑːnətʃæmpˈeɪnz dᵻpˈɑːɹtmənt ʌv ˈɑːɹt ænd dɪzˈaɪn, ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾɪŋ wɪð ɐ mˈæstɚɹ ʌv fˈaɪn ˈɑːɹts dᵻɡɹˈiː ɪn pˈeɪntɪŋ.
In 1988, she began graduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Department of Art and Design, eventually graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting.