Jolyn Fry was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania May 22 of 1972. Her parents were tobacco farmers, and she and her younger siblings spent much of their childhood exploring and working on their 89 acre farm. Jolyn showed a passion for art from an early age on and her family encouraged her to pursue her creative interests. After graduating from Penn Manor High School she attended Pennsylvania School of Art and Design in downtown Lancaster City. She graduated with honors in 1996. In February of 1997 she packed all of her belongings into her station wagon and drove cross country to Portland, Oregon . She currently works as an artist and teacher at Radius Community Art Studio on SE Morrison Street, and lives in Southeast Portland with her partner, Miles Uchida, and their children, Sorrel and Hazel.