Leah Williams Nolan was born in Kinsley, Kansas, on February 3, 1901. Her father was James Edward Williams and her mother Isabel Alexander. Nolan graduated from Kinsley High School in 1918. Throughout her life, she lived in Kansas, Colorado, Illinois, California, Connecticut, and New York. In 1924, she and William Nolan married, divorcing in 1936.

Nolan is best known for her figurines, which were widely publicized and earned her great acclaim. Her artwork appeared in advertisements at department stores, movie and performance theaters, magazines (such as Esquire), and in displays (such as those for Arthur Murray Dance Studios).

Not limiting herself strictly to artwork, Nolan was also a skilled engineer and taught women's courses at the Illinois Institute of Technology during the 1940s, as well as working for the United States Army Air Force during WWII. While living in Chicago and New York she befriended artists, authors, and intellectuals such as Alexander Calder, Laslo M'Holy, Ross Parmenter, and George Kepes.

Leah Nolan returned to Kansas in 1978, living in Topeka and then Wichita before her death in 1982.