Alicia T. van Thiel is an American painter and sculptor. Born in Italy to American parents, she grew up in Europe and in North Carolina, USA. Her drawings, paintings and sculptures capture everyday moments, portraits and travels with classical skill working exclusively from life.

Alicia holds a Master of Science in Education from The City College of New York, a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Hunter College and an Associate of Applied Science in apparel design from The Fashion Institute of Technology. She studied academic figure drawing and painting at The Art Students League of New York and studied Masterworks participating in the Copyist Program at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Alicia continued her figurative studies in portrait sculpture at the Florence Academy of Art In Florence, Italy.

Her prior career as an apparel/textile designer led Alicia to an interest in education while teaching industry professionals at the Parsons School of Design. Awarded a teaching fellowship, she has taught in New York City, Beijing and Hong Kong. Alicia currently works between her studio in Hong Kong and with foundries in Europe to develop her sculpture. She exhibits internationally.