Martha Walker was born in 1953 in Kansas City, Missouri. After several moves in the U.S. in 1961 her family moved to Sweden for three years, spending one year in a remote forest location. They returned to the U.S. in Miami Beach, Florida before moving to Brooklyn, New York, where Martha attended Pratt Institute from 1971-1976, majoring in sculpture and drawing. She earned her Masters Degree at Pratt Institute and graduated with honors.