She comes from a family of artists, is self-taught and has a BA from UCLA/World Arts & Culture. She started off as a dancer/teacher until 1998 when she became disabled with Chronic Migraines, Partial Transverse Myelitis and other pain syndromes. Severe pain caused total isolation for many years including seven months of hospitalization and continues to disable her today. Thanks to the support of her partner, James she is able to pursue her love for abstract, nature and street photography and just completed a five-year abstract collection. Laria currently lives in East Bay, San Francisco.