Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Yen-Shi Chin emigrated with her parents to the United States in 1980. She set her sights on becoming a fashion designer early in life. However, by the time she arrived at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, she was no longer enamored by the glamour of the fashion and modeling industry, thus returning to what she considered home, Ann Arbor, Michigan. She entered the School of Art & Design at the University of Michigan and began to explore other mediums including ceramics, printmaking, sound and book art. Through book arts she was able to create a series of paper doll books dealing with women's issues and exploring themes that contradicted her original desire to go into fashion. Immediately after college, Yen met her husband, artist Nick Azzaro. They moved to Chicago and for five years she dealt major American works to collectors and museums. They recently started an art and design firm, Chin-Azzaro, specializing in all areas of aesthetics for home and business where Yen has been able to return to painting murals while appraising and consulting.