Marcia Harris was born in Gaspé, Quebec. An interest in art began during Harris's formative years when she entered many contests, including a national one in 1992 where she met her Majesty the Queen at Canada’s 125 birthday celebration in Ottawa. Harris completed a Bachelor of Fine Arts program at the University of British Columbia Okanagan and graduated with distinction in 2004. Since then, she has shown in numerous galleries across western Canada, and has been involved in various public art shows.

Though her subject matter is diverse, Harris is best known for her nostalgic depictions of familiar buildings in urban landscapes. Her choice of subject is largely motivated by colour, light, and shadow. Through a distinct use of these elements and a painterly approach, Harris’s expressive vitality provokes an alternative perception of familiar urban spaces. She revels in the unpredictability of colour interactions and embraces the beauty of unresolved moments. Her methodical application of colour balances theory and practice while emphasizing the potent impact of layering light and shadow.

Marcia Harris’s work is in the collection of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts, the Calgary Stampede Art Collection in the BMO Centre and the Glenbow.