Marcia Schvartz was born March 24, 1955, in
Buenos Aires, to progressive parents. Schvartz's mother, named Hebe Clementi, was both a historian and professor. Clementi wrote extensively about indigenous culture and critiqued
chattel slavery. Her father Gregorio Schvartz owned a notable bookstore. His bookstore was known for lending books to those who could not afford to buy them. From the time she was young, Schvartz created art. In 1970, she began studying art at the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano. Schvartz was introduced to Aída Carballo here. Carballo became an influential mentor and teacher in Schvartz's early life. Schvartz left the Escuela de Bellas Artes Manuel Belgrano before graduating. In the 1970s, Schvartz was a member of the
Peronist Youth movement. In 1976, the leftist leader
Isabel Perón was overthrown in a coup. In 1979, during this time of civil unrest Schvartz self-exiled to Spain after the disappearance of her best friend in 1977. Schvartz's work is heavily influenced by the disappearances during the aftermath of the coup of Isabel Perón and by the tragedies of the
AIDS crisis, both of which Schvartz lost friends to. In 1983, Schvartz returned to Argentina. == Work ==