Born on a US Army ship docked in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aracelis Rivera holds a BA in Art from Lehman College and has studied and exhibited at the Art Students League. She was drawn to the easel while in elementary school and began painting in tempera. Her preferred mediums are oil and acrylic, and she also works in pencil, ink, watercolor, and ceramic. Aracelis particularly admires the works of Goya, Monet, and Rembrandt. She often portrays figures and landscapes in her pieces and has also discovered that working in the abstract style enables her to identify and express her deepest feelings. Says Aracelis, "My work is always evolving, and I am grateful to my teachers and to artists of the past and present for providing ongoing inspiration."