Karita Coffey's Comanche name is Tsat-Tah Mo-oh Kahn, which translates to "Good-Handed.

"[1] Coffey lived in Lawton, Oklahoma, before beginning her artistic training at the Institute of American Indian Arts[3] when it was still a high school.

She earned her bachelor's of fine arts and graduate degree in Education from the University of Oklahoma.

[4] Coffey completed teacher certification in art and served as artist-in-residence for the Oklahoma City public school system and taught pottery in Native American education programs in Oklahoma.

[5] Coffey later taught at IAIA[2] for 25 years before retiring in 2015 to work on her sculpture.