ARLENE GRASTON was born in Reims, France, to an American father and French mother giving her a dual nationality. She began her career with the haute couture house of Nina Ricci in Paris, where she apprenticed as a fashion designer and later designed jewelry. In her early twenties Arlene came to America where she established her own graphic design studio. Her commercial work appeared in numerous national publications including VOGUE, HARPER'S BAZAAR, WWD, and THE NEW YORK TIMES. She also designed the posters for the original Broadway productions of BUBBLING BROWN SUGAR and EUBIE! among others.