Richard Callner was born in 1927 in Michigan, but spent most of his childhood in Chicago in the midst of the Depression. At the age of 17, Callner dropped out of school and enlisted in the Navy during WWII. He began his formal study of art through the G.I.Bill at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, in 1946.

Callner had several distinct artistic periods. His early work was dark and abstract, while his Lilith period showcased the myth, and was lighter and more detailed. He then was inspired by his surroundings and moved on to vibrant landscapes, and finally his work became more abstract.