Monica Bernier was born and raised in New York City and studied painting at Boston University College of Fine Arts with, amongst others, James Weeks, John Wilson, Philip Guston, and Robert D’Arista. She earned a Master of Fine Arts degree in painting from The American University, winning the David Lloyd Kreeger Award for excellence in Painting. She received the Julius Hallgarten Award for painting from the National Academy of Design. She is currently represented by Bowery Gallery in New York City. She has exhibited her work throughout the United States. Her work is in private collections both in the United States and Europe. She lives and works in New York City.