Born in Miami Beach, Florida, Ilona began her classical art study at the age of twelve, with yearly summer classes at the South Florida Art Institute. She attended the Philadelphia College of Art and then on to New York City working in commercial design.

In 1973, Ilona moved to Rome, Italy, where she taught figure drawing at the Accademia de Belle Arte. During her 8 years abroad, she had a solo show in 1974 at the American Studies Center in Naples, Italy.

After time abroad and family priorities accomplished, Ilona has been blessed to do what she loves most, teach art and continue to paint varied subjects with balanced creative consistency with a wide range of knowledge in the visual arts.

Ilona still travels extensively to the American Southwest and Southern California. In the past seven years, she has focused her passion on the profound beauty and heritage of the area, bringing it back to her studio in Plantation, Florida, where she continues her work today.