Joel-Peter Witkin was born in Brooklyn in 1939. He was drafted in 1961 and served as a combat photographer in Vietnam until 1964. In 1967, he became the official photographer for City Walls Inc. He earned a bachelor's degree in sculpture from Cooper Union in 1974. During this time, he was granted a scholarship in poetry by Columbia University, but he completed his graduate studies at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where he obtained both an M.A. and an M.F.A.

Witkin's work is known for its brutal and often shocking nature. It is always challenging, provocative, and disturbing, leaving a profound impact on the viewer's nerves and emotions. His artistic style can be described as baroque surrealism, wherein he transforms repulsive aspects of reality into abstract representations that transcend their original meaning. Witkin's photographs embody his unique vision and push the boundaries of conventional perception.

Prior to beginning his work in the studio, Witkin follows a traditional approach by creating sketches on paper to refine the compositional details. After the photo shoot, he further enhances the negatives by scratching expressive patterns onto their surface and applying pigments for coloring. The resulting imagery is dramatic and grotesque, presented in striking black and white. The addition of exquisite frames to the photographs creates a juxtaposition of comedy and horror, combining elements that evoke a range of emotions in the viewer.