Ali had a strong thirst for all things artistic at a very young age. Years of studying the arts culminated with a B.F.A. in Scenography from SUNY-New Paltz, where she learned faux/decorative painting, costuming and set construction/design. She went on to design for regional theater, worked as an artist on several large theatrical productions and then relocated back to New York City. Ali worked on the first season of Hard Rock Live on VH1 as the V.I.P. coordinator and various episodes of Pulp Comics on Comedy Central, as an assistant art director and art director respectively. She has also
… More worked on many television commercials as an art assistant and art director.
Ali's professional and artistic life later shifted as she began to study at Wagner College and received a M.S. in Education. She then taught in New York City public schools as an art teacher, staff developer and classroom teacher, ensuring that her artistic and performing arts methods enriched all content areas of the New York State curriculum. During that time, Ali also designed a production of Hurly-burly for DDR Productions at the Mint Theater in NYC and worked with various homeowners as a design consultant and artist.
