Born in Havana in  1926, Zilia Sanchez initiated her studies at the Escuela Nacional de Bellas Artes de San Alejandro in Havana graduating in 1947. Her first exhibition took place in 1948 at the XXX Salón de Bellas Artes, Círculo de Bellas Artes,in Havana, Cuba, followed by her first solo exhibit in 1953 at the VI Salón de Pintura y Escultura, Salones del Capitolio Nacional in Havana. In 1959 she represented Cuba at the 5th Bienal de São Paulo. After the triumph of the revolution she went to resided in Spain from 1960 to 1962, Between the years 1966 and 1968 she studied at the Instituto Central de Conservación y Restauración in Madrid, Spain and from 1968 to 1970 she continued her education at the Pratt Institute in New York, moving to Puerto rico in 1972 where she continues to live and work until today.