Mirtha Aertker was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and studied art at the Cristobal Rojas School of Art in Caracas. It is here where she first discovered her passion for clay. After participating in various collective expositions and discovering the wonders of fused glass, Raku and mixed media sculpture, Mirtha exhibited pieces in the store at the Sofia Imber Contemporary Art Museum in Caracas. In 1980 she came to the United States to continue her studies and to master the English language at Vincennes University, while also attending numerous workshops with accomplished American ceramicists

After marrying in 1987, Mirtha moved with her family to the republic of Yemen where she lived for more than five years. She learned primitive ceramic techniques and how to make the traditional gypsy stained glass windows. In Yemen she made several expositions and was recognized for her knowledge of Raku techniques and fused glass.

In the late 1990’s, Mirtha and her family moved to England where she studied porcelain, painting, and the ancients methods of stained glass used in the early cathedrals in Great Britain.

In 2001, the family made yet another move to Peru. Here she began extensive studies of the restoration and conservation of the pre-Colombian ceramics. She also worked closely with acclaimed Peruvian ceramicists, making Vicus pottery. After exhibiting in various events sponsored by museums, galleries and embassies, she undertook classes on jewelry making. She then graduated as a silver smith and entered a distinguished, national competition in Lima, Peru. She placed third in the national silver and silversmith exposition, with her rendition of the traditional Chancay doll.

Today Mirtha lives in Allen, Texas along with her husband and three teenage children. She continues her studies in distinct techniques of fired art while participating in shows, local galleries and national art competitions.