Born as Muriel Brunner on September 27, 1926 in New York City, the youngest of six children. She was raised in
Greenwich Village and attended New York's
High School of Music and Art. Castanis did not begin her art career until 1964 at the age of 38, and she was self-taught. Her image is included in the iconic 1972 poster
Some Living American Women Artists by
Mary Beth Edelson. Her 1980 exhibit at the
OK Harris Works of Art in Manhattan led to her career breakthrough. Her work
Corporate Goddesses (1982), features twelve fiberglass statues of faceless women standing 12 feet tall atop
580 California Street building, designed by architect
Philip Johnson; it has stirred varying interpretations, as viewers try to understand the symbolism. She died on 22 November 2006 at age 80 from
lung failure in
Greenwich Village neighborhood in New York City, and was survived by her husband George Castanis and their four children. ==Works==