Amaya Salazar's inclination towards the arts came as a result of her environment. During her childhood and adolescent years she traveled with her family to distant locations where she had the opportunity to observe different cultures and meet people with diverse backgrounds. Thus, awakening in Amaya a curiosity that she would later develop in her pallet and clay.

She was born in 1951 in the Dominican capital, Santo Domingo, a city bathed by tropical light and surrounded by the sea's breeze. Throughout the years her desire to plunge herself into the fascinating world of the arts emerged. At first, it was training, then a need and finally an uncontainable passion. Amaya was not content with limiting herself within the confines of the island. She traveled to Spain and the United States in order to continue her schooling and to perfect her techniques; with discipline she seriously formed her career. Through her training Amaya learned to dominate drawing, skillfully manage color, discover the emotion of giving form with her hands to clay and little by little without rushing but with a firm conviction she has become an artist completely dedicated to her task; always growing and reaching one by one all of her goals.It is with this dedication that Amaya has been able to exhibit her works in various countries. In the Dominican Republic her first solo exhibition took place in 1981; since this show Amaya has presented her works at important art galleries and museums of her country. Her solo and group exhibitions in her country have been numerous. Following is a recount of her most significant shows.

In 1994, she was invited to exhibit her works in the Second Painting Biennale of the Caribbean and Central America. At this biennale she was also asked to give the opening speech on behalf of Dominican artists. In 1997, Amaya presented at Galeria Guernica the exhibition called, "Amaya in Three Dimensions"; thus, positioning herself as one of the first female artist to prepare an exhibition of sculptures. She was also the first female artist to have her works exhibited in the altars of two churches of her country. Her work, "Christ Resurrected," a 7 feet by 8 inches bronze sculpture, is in the Church of Santo Toribio and her work, "Resurrection", a 5 feet by 5 inches bronze sculpture, is in the Church of San Mauricio.

Her accomplishments in foreign countries have also been great. Her first solo international exhibition was in 1987. With Caja de Ahorros Madrid her show was presented in various Spanish cities: Zaragoza, Barcelona, Ciudad Real and Madrid. In 1990, she had an exhibition at Milan, Italy at the gallery, Galeria d'Arte La Torre. That year she also returned to Spain and had another traveling exhibition with Caja de Ahorros de Vitoria. This time her exhibition was presented in Bilbao, Vitoria and San Sebastian.

Later in 1994, Amaya showed her work in Montreal, Canada. In 1996, she exhibited at The Santander Gallery of Miami, Florida. In 1997 and in 2000 she exhibited at Galeria Imagen, Panama City.The showing of her work in group exhibitions has also been numerous. Together with renown artist she has exhibited in Ottowa (Canada), Montecapione (Italy), Caracas (Venezuela), Curazao, Paris (France), and Miami (Florida). One of the important group exhibitions called "Les Trois Ameriques à Paris" (The Three Americans in Paris) took place in 1990 at the Musee de Luxembourg, Paris (France). In 1992, she went to Israel and participated in an exhibition called, "Dominican Painting in Israel." In 1995, she was invited to participate in the XXVII International Festival of Painting at Cagnes-Sur-Mer, France. In the year 2000 together with three other painters she exhibited at the Museum of Arts of the Americas in Washington D.C. Through this exhibition Amaya was able to participate in a conference programmed by the Smithonian Center for Latin Iniciative. In the summer of 2001 she was invited to participate in a group exhibition by Atlas Galleries in Chicago.