Monica Magtoto was born and raised in San Francisco, California. Growing up, she developed a strong fascination with nature and the arts, particularly Victorian, Art Nouveau, Native American, Mexican folk arts, Vintage sign and Tattoo art, and the San Francisco mural arts scene.
After attending Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, she returned to her native home and began teaching art to high school and middle school students in the inner-city. Having spent several years teaching, she now devotes herself to her own art practice, returning to her passion and sharing her work.