Robert Natkin was born in 1930 in Chicago and faced a challenging upbringing. Despite the difficulties, he pursued his passion for art and attended the Art Institute of Chicago, where he was introduced to non-representational painting and became drawn to abstract expressionism. His admiration for abstract expressionists, especially Willem de Kooning, led him to New York City in 1952.
Returning to Chicago, Natkin became a prominent figure among the city's abstract expressionist group and opened the Wells Street Gallery with his wife, Judith Dolnick, in 1957. He later returned to New York City in 1959 and exhibited his work at various galleries, including the Poindexter Gallery.
Over the years, Natkin explored different painting techniques, often focusing on experimental textures. He believed in the therapeutic value of art and emphasized the emotional connection inherent in artistic expression.
His work gained recognition through retrospectives and international exhibitions, and he eventually settled in Connecticut, where he passed away at the age of seventy-nine. In 1979, a documentary exploring the relationship between art and psychoanalysis, focusing on Natkin's work, was produced by the BBC in collaboration with critic Peter Fuller.
His work is featured in major museums, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; and The Art Institute of Chicago.