Elisabeth Penker studied sculpture and painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and at the National Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo. In 2005 Penker undertook a research residency at the Jan van Eyck Academy in Maastricht, followed by a doctoral research fellowship in cultural studies at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Additionally, she worked in sound studios in Chicago (Maestro Matic) and London (De Lane Lea) for film post-production​.