Ellen Lee Klein was born, raised and educated in New York City. She was a student at the High School of Music and Art, where, after earning a B.A from City College of New York and an M.F.A. from Pratt Institute, she later returned to teach.

After teaching all levels in the New York City public school system she later taught undergraduate classes at Jersey City State College and Graduate classes at The City College of New York.

Administrator of the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts from 1980-1994; Director of Humanities at the Educational Alliance from 1995-1997; she wrote art criticism and about art regularly for ARTS Magazine, and for other publications which included Art & Oxygen, Manhattan Spotlight, and American Arts Review from 1982-1999.

Education

Master of Fine Arts Degree-Pratt Institute-
Major Painting/Minor Art History

The City College of New York
Bachelor of Arts Degree-Major Art, Minor Education

Pratt Graphics Center, studied intaglio printmaking
Her works are in the Hofstra University Museum collection, The Thirteen Collection and numerous private collections. Her works have been exhibited at the Hudson River Museum, the Eubie Blake Museum, Sotheby's, Avery Fisher Hall in Lincoln Center New York City.

Her solo exhibitions have included the Green Mountain Gallery in New York City, Maples Gallery at Fairleigh Dickinson University, Ward Nasse Gallery, Phoenix Gallery in New York City , Michael's Two in New York City
Included in numerous group exhibitions she was selected to be in a notable exhibition"The Eye of Woman" at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva New York.

She has been residing and working in Charlotte, North Carolina since 2014.