Born in McPherson, Kansas, Bruce Conner studied at the University of Nebraska, the Brooklyn Museum Art School, and the University of Colorado. He emerged as a significant figure in the San Francisco art scene during the late 1950s, where he began creating his signature assemblages using discarded materials and found objects.

Conner's practice spanned a vast array of media, including film, drawing, sculpture, painting, collage, and photography. His work often explored themes of cultural anxiety, mortality, and the ephemeral nature of media, frequently utilizing dark, layered imagery that challenged conventional narrative structures.

His legacy continues to be examined in major international exhibitions, including recent institutional surveys that contextualize his modernist contributions within broader art historical movements. His work remains a touchstone for discussions on the evolution of contemporary visual culture and the intersection of light and shadow in artistic practice.