Background
Steckel was born in New York to Russian Jewish immigrants Dora and Hyman Arkin.
Steckel was born in New York to Russian Jewish immigrants Dora and Hyman Arkin.
She studied art at the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan (now Fiorello H LaGuardia High School of Music & Art), the Cooper Union, and Alfred University, as well as completing advanced study at the Art Students League of New York with Edwin Dickinson She also taught for several years at the Art Students League.