Born in Cali, Colombia, Esperanza Tielbaard began her formal art education in 1976 taking private art classes in oil painting, drawing, sketching, and art history. In 1982, she moved to the United Stated to enhance her education. During this time, she explored working with glass.

In 1985, she returned to Colombia, setting up her own studio to work with glass and other media. Her two mentors, Maestro Oviedo and Hernando Tejada, were very prominent Colombian artists; both became a solid source of inspiration and encouragement to continue her art career. While in Colombia, she participated in the creation of the Art Park, which displays monthly local artists' exhibits, and is still in existence to this day.

After getting married, she moved to Netherlands in 1988 getting acquainted with European museums and artistic landmarks. Her travels soon took her to India where she resided for two years and explored the art of screen and fabric painting. Later, in Indonesia, she learned batik, enabling her to further develop her style in fabric painting.

In 1993, she moved to the Philadelphia area with her family. For ten years she continued painting silk fabrics and also volunteered with the "Art Goes to School" organization, teaching children the basics of art in schools. Her art was displayed in galleries in Manayunk, PA, and in the Bradford and Hollow Galleries in Chester County, PA.

In 2003, she moved to Baldwinsville, NY. More recently she has exhibited in New Jersey. Her work has been shown in Couture Fashion Week at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Her passion for the arts has been broadened by her interest in digital photography inspired by the natural beauty of her natural surroundings and memories of travels.