Alethea Maguire-Cruz (maiden name: Maguire) was born in Connecticut, where her artist/educator family taught nearby at the original Barlow School (in Amenia, NY). She studied at the University of Delaware (MFA); incorporating graduate study as a Julin Scholar at the University of Iowa. Prior, she had completed undergraduate study at SUNY Purchase (BFA); including a semester overseas at the Amsterdamse Hogeschool voor de Kunsten, Academie Beeldende Voorming.

Currently she teaches at Mid Michigan Community College and has taught full-time at Delta College and Nassau Community College (NCC), as well as part-time at Pratt Institute Associate Degree Programs, Long Island University (LIU/CW Post), Central Wyoming College and the University of Delaware (post-GTA). She has also held positions as Printmaking Coordinator at NCC, Art Coordinator Assistant at the Delaware Division of the Arts, and as Foundation Art Coordinator at LIU/CW Post.

As a founding partner of Land Atelier, Alethea has fulfilled ongoing fine art and design commissions (from NY to FL to Greece). Additionally she has worked with New York publishing and design firms: New York Black Book Magazine, Resident Publications, Wolff New Media, Sales Graphics and Prodigy Services Co (IBM/Sears), Creative Group. As a fine artist she is represented by Contemporary Art Network, Trillium Gallery and Mistretta Galleries (in NY). Alethea exhibits internationally. Her work can be found in numerous private collections.