Carl Ashby, painter and printmaker, was born in Hurley, New Mexico on March 2, 1914. He worked as an artist for the Civilian Conservation Corps before attending the University of Utah, where he received his degree in 1937.

He relocated to New York City shortly thereafter and married artist Estelle Grey in 1938. Ashby worked at Atelier 17 sometime between the years 1940 and 1955, and earned his MA degree from New York University in 1959. He taught at the Parsons Division of the New School at New York University for twenty-five years beginning in 1970.

During his career, Ashby studied with artists Hans Hofmann, George Grosz and Morris Kantor. His works and papers are included in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Archives of American Art, the Provincetown Art Association and Museum, and the Hood Museum at Dartmouth College.

Carl Ashby died on May 9, 2004.