Born in Paris to Venezuelan parents, Marisol Escobar studied at the Art Students League of New York and the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts. She emerged as a distinct voice in the New York art scene during the 1960s, gaining international attention for her unique approach to figurative sculpture.

Her signature style involved constructing figures from wooden blocks, which she then adorned with carved details, painted surfaces, and mixed-media elements such as plaster casts of her own face and hands. These works often explored themes of social identity, family, and public figures, blending elements of folk art with contemporary pop sensibilities.

Following a period of relative obscurity, her legacy was solidified in the 21st century through major institutional retrospectives. Her estate, bequeathed to the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, has served as the primary source for comprehensive exhibitions that have re-examined her contributions to 20th-century sculpture.