Alem Teklu was born in Adwa (Northern Ethiopia) in 1976. She attended the University of Addis Ababa of Fine Arts and Design. After four years of studying art Alem graduated with a Diploma of Distinction in the field of sculpture In 2002. In 2010 Alem decided to further her education by studying ceramics in Italy. Then she attended the Academy of Fine Arts and school of marble in Carrara, Italy in which she studied the technique of marble sculpting.