Efram Wolff was born in Los Angeles, CA and has pursued an interest in the arts since childhood. Both his parents experienced Berlin of the 1920's and later fled Nazi Germany. They kept a vigorously cultural household. While attending university, Wolff specialized in printmaking. After attending university, Wolff moved to Europe and began working as an artist, educator, and printer of etchings and lithographs. He returned to the United States in the late 1970's and established a printmaking studio which also served as a contract printshop and publishing house.

In the 1980's Wolff was the recipient of numerous awards. Most notably, he received the California Phelan Art Award, administered by the World Print Council and the Kay Nielsen Award, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Wolff also acted as mentor and co-publisher for a series of prints by Chicano artist Carlos Almaraz.