Natalie Charkow was born and raised in Philadelphia, and graduated from the Tyler School of Fine Arts. She founded and taught in the sculpture department at the Philadelphia College of Art (now the University of the Arts). Subsequently, she taught in MFA programs at Yale University; Boston University; Queens College, CUNY; and the University of Pennsylvania. She continues to lecture widely at art schools and university art programs throughout the United States. She was formerly represented by the Robert Schoelkopf Gallery, NYC, and had a solo exhibition at Lohin Geduld Gallery in April 2004.