Cate Rangel was born in Washington D.C., and grew up in suburban Southern California. Her interest in art developed at an early age, spending countless hours drawing and painting. Cate recalls dreaming of becoming an artist when she grew up, but did not pursue that dream until first exploring other career paths. In 1999, Cate obtained her Bachelor's degree in Psychology. Not finding a calling in that field, she eventually found her way back to art through the study of Art History.

Cate Rangel's works are drawn from emotion, mood, and personal experience, with many being autobiographical in nature. They are not images of her physical self, but emotional and psychological mirrors. A self-taught artist, Cate was invited to display a piece in her first gallery show in 2008 and has been exhibiting ever since.