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Barbara Solomon was born in San Francisco. During her adolescence she trained as a dancer and studied painting at the California School of Fine Arts. Later she married Frank Stauffacher, an experimental film director, best known for introducing European avant-garde techniques to American viewers. From 1948 to 1955 Barbara studied various subjects, including history, painting, ballet, and philosophy. In 1955 her husband died from a brain tumor, leaving Barbara to care for their daughter Chloe, then three years old.

Frank Stauffacher and Barbara Stauffacher Solomon with their daughter Chloe. The still is from Christian Bruno's 2018 short film Visions Not Previously Seen: The Groundbreaking Design Work of Barbara Stauffacher Solomon.