Born in 1866 in České Budějovice, then part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Otto Pilny eventually settled in Switzerland. He received his artistic training in Prague before establishing a career that focused heavily on the aesthetic traditions of Orientalism, a popular movement in late 19th and early 20th-century European painting.

Pilny is recognized for his technical focus on light and color, often capturing scenes of desert caravans, musicians, and domestic interiors. His compositions frequently emphasized the romanticized imagery of the Maghreb, which he visited during his travels, allowing him to document specific cultural motifs and architectural details of the region.

While he remained a dedicated practitioner of traditional genre painting throughout his career, his works continue to be studied as examples of the European fascination with North African culture during the turn of the century. His paintings are held in various private and public collections, reflecting his sustained influence within the Orientalist genre.