Maritza Ranero was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ to parents who relocated from Puerto Rico to New York City to work in manufacturing. She attended Jersey City College to study what was then called commercial art. After moving to Chicago, she earned her BFA from The University of Illinois, Chicago. A few years later she moved to Philadelphia and received her MFA from Tyler School of Art/Temple University.  

Ranero’s subject matter explores “the transitory state of being” to create images that are mostly representational yet intuitive in nature. Some of her earlier works utilize various processes to transform existing visuals and objects. Her more recent work is created using paint on canvas and paper, as well as working with other mediums such as video and clay.  

Her work has been curated/juried into several group shows across the country.