Epstein née Hefter was born on 27 February 1879 in Zhytomyr, Russian Empire (now Ukraine).

In Munich she studied with Anton Ažbe, Alexej von Jawlensky, and Wassily Kandinsky.

She also attended the salons hosted by fellow artist Marianne von Werefkin.

[4] Around 1907 Epstein moved to Paris and exhibited at the Salon d'Automne.

While living in Paris Epstein introduced Kandinsky and Franz Marc to the French art world, and also facilitated the inclusion of the French painter Robert Delaunay's work in the traveling Der Blaue Reiter exhibition of 1911.