Marina Abramovic was born in on November 30th,1946 in Belgrade Yugoslavia. She was raised by world war two veterans that were very strict on their daughter. For the first six years of her life, her grandmother had the sole responsibility of raising her. Grandparents raising young children was a very common occurrence in Yugoslavia during this time because many times both parents would have demanding jobs. Marina’s parents often beat her (when they saw her) for various minor discrepancies and she remarked, “My mother never kissed me or told me she loved me, because she didn’t want to spoil me, and now I have to do so much to deserve attention”. She attended the Academy of Fine Arts in Belgrade from 1965-1970 and then went on to achieve her masters at the Academy of Fine Arts Zagreb in 1972. Marina taught as a professor for a few years before pursuing her life as a full-time artist. Her strict upbringing would lead her to pioneer performance art into a recognized form of art throughout her lifetime. As a young woman Marina would put on her performances and then be home by her 10 o’clock curfew. This went on until she was 29 years old and left her family home. She went to Amsterdam and there she met her partner in art and life, another artist by the name of Ulay.