Zarina was born in Aligarh, India. After receiving a degree in mathematics; she went on to study woodblock printing in Bangkok and Tokyo, and intaglio with S. W. Hayter at Atelier-17 in Paris.

 

Her experiences and her personal life define Zarina's works. An early interest in architecture and mathematics is reflected in her use of geometry and her emphasis on structural purity. While her work tends towards minimalism, its starkness is tempered by its texture and materiality. Her art poignantly chronicles her life and features recurring themes of home, displacement, borders, journey, and memory.

 

She has had a fascinating journey and lived all over the world. Growing up, she had a wonderful childhood and a supportive family. She was very close to her sister Rani, who passed away in 2013.

 

In the course of her career, Zarina has exhibited at numerous international venues. In 2011, she represented India at the 2011 Venice Biennale. The following year, her retrospective exhibition, entitled Zarina: Paper Like Skin, opened at the Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, before traveling to the Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Art Institute of Chicago in 2013.