Tomoe Yokoi was born in Nagoya, Japan in 1942. Her formal art studies began at Tokyo’s Bunka-Gakuen, one of Japan's first women's colleges, and the first to offer a wide range of courses to women. The curriculum focused on traditional Western techniques and representational subject matter such as still lifes and landscapes. Following her graduation in 1964, Yokoi moved to Paris and studied intaglio printmaking with Stanley William Hayter at Atelier 17. While there, Yokoi perfected her the mezzotint technique - her preferred medium - expanding its parameters to include more complex images and subtle color nuances.

In 1971, Yokoi moved to New York City where she worked and introduced her art to new audiences. She developed a unique style that combines and is a synthesis of her Japanese, Parisian and New York experiences.

Her work is represented in the National Gallerie the Musee d' Art Moderne, Paris; the Bibliotheque Nationale, Paris; Brooklyn Museum, New York; and the Free Library of Philadelphia, in Pennsylvania.

Yokoi has exhibited throughout Europe and the United States, including: the Norwegian International Print Biennial, Oslo (1972-'74); the 52nd Paris International Print Biennial (1972); SAGA National Print Exhibition, New York (1973); IKI International Art Fair, Dusseldorf (1973); British International Print Biennial, Bradford (1974); and Ljubljana International Print Biennial, Yugoslavia (1976 - '81).