Born in Montes Claros (MG), Yara Tupinambá studied and graduated in the Sacré-Coeur de Marie in 1949. Decided to dedicate herself to Fine Arts, did her artistic studies with Guignard and Goeldi and was a scholarship holder at the Pratt Institute in Nova York. She was a professor and director of the School of Fine Arts of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and also at the Guignard School.

Throughout her career, the artist was selected for numerous exhibitions in various corners of Brazil, including to represent mining art in large collective exhibitions. Expanding the boundaries, Yara has participated in international shows in South and North American, European and African countries.