Marlene was born in Los Angeles, California, of German immigrant parents, Hans and Norma Zander. The family lived with her grandparents, who spoke only German. As a child Marlene longed to express herself by drawing and painting, but the family could not afford paper or crayons, so sometimes she drew on walls or in books with anything available, suffering the consequences of punishment.
After mastering English she did very well and won praise for her artwork. She received a scholarship to the University of California at Berkley, graduating with honors in psychology. While at UC Berkley Marlene met Don Gutierrez. They fell in love and married in 1957, and after graduation moved to New York City, where Marlene hoped to enter the art world.
Two years later they returned to California, where Don attended UCLA, working towards his doctorate in English Literature. After Don's graduation they moved to South Bend IN where he accepted a position on the faculty at Notre Dame. Marlene continued her artwork and she was soon accepted in competitive exhibitions in the Chicago area. She excelled in mixed media, including collage, painting, print-making and metalworks.
In 1975 Marlene, Don and their two children, Hector and Trajan, moved to Silver City, New Mexico, where Don taught at Western New Mexico University and Marlene had her first one-person art exhibit. Marlene progressed to numerous exhibits, including one in Assisi, Italy where she was invited to work as an artist for a month in 1989.
After Don's retirement in 1994, the couple moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where Marlene even now continues breaking new ground.
Early picture of Marlene and one of the awkward children from the village.