Maria Choulaki was born in 1956 in Heraklion, Crete. In 1982 she completed her studies in painting, photography, video art and audiovisual communication in France, at the École des Beaux-arts in Lyon and in St. Etienne. In 1983 she worked in Italy and in 1984 she studied Television Direction on a scholarship granted by the French Government.

From 1994 to 1997 she specialized in art teaching in Bordeaux and at the Pompidou Centre in France. She taught at the Department of Primary Education of the University of Crete, in secondary education and in Cyprus. She served as head of the art department of the Centre for Contemporary Art of Rethymnon.

Some of her sculptures are found in open spaces within the Municipality of Heraklion, and she has exhibited her paintings and photos in several individual and group exhibitions. She is a member of the Chamber of Fine Arts of Greece.