Born in the United States and raised in Brazil, Arto Lindsay emerged as a central figure in the downtown New York music scene during the late 1970s. He gained prominence as a founding member of the influential no wave band DNA, which was featured on the landmark 1978 compilation No New York, produced by Brian Eno.

Lindsay is known for his unconventional approach to the electric guitar, often utilizing a jagged, atonal technique that eschewed traditional chord structures. Throughout the 1980s and beyond, he expanded his practice through the formation of the group Ambitious Lovers and collaborations with ensembles such as the Lounge Lizards and the Golden Palominos, while also establishing himself as a prolific record producer.

His career has spanned decades of experimental composition and performance, bridging the gap between avant-garde rock and Brazilian musical traditions. Lindsay continues to be recognized for his significant contributions to experimental music and his role in shaping the aesthetic of the New York underground.