Darlys Ewoldt was born in Denison, Iowa on July 14, 1955. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Indiana University. During the ensuing years, Ewoldt has lived and worked in Chicago. Her work has been included in numerous exhibitions and collections. She has been the recipient of multiple grants and awards, including Ford Foundation Fellowship and Project Grants, three Fellowship Grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Projects Grants from the Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation, the George Sugarman Foundation, and the Governor James R. Thompson Award for Excellence in Craft.