Her mother was the noted author Sigrid Ring (1870–1955), who was a granddaughter of Norwegian politician Paul Vinsnes.
[5] At the Académie Moderne, Wankel was introduced to a type of avant-garde architecture and painting which was inspired by Swiss architect and designer, Le Corbusier.
Wankel participated in many important exhibitions in Paris, including L'art d'aujord'hui at the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes in 1925.
Here she exhibited along with many famous artists, including Piet Mondrian, Pablo Picasso, Constantin Brâncuși, Juan Gris, Sonia Terk and Robert Delaunay.
She gave her pictures a tight, clear and cool form of treatment, mixed with a purist design.