Born in New York City, Robert Whitman studied literature at Rutgers University and later art history at Columbia University. He emerged as a central figure in the downtown New York art scene during the early 1960s, where he developed his signature performance works that utilized unconventional materials and multimedia projections.

Whitman's practice is defined by the creation of sensory-rich environments that challenge the boundaries between the performer and the audience. His early works often incorporated film loops, slide projections, and everyday objects to construct surreal, non-linear narratives. Throughout his career, he has consistently experimented with emerging technologies, including early explorations of telecommunications and digital media.

His contributions to the development of happenings and performance art have been widely documented in institutional surveys of 20th-century American art. He remains a significant figure in the history of interdisciplinary art, with his works held in the collections of major museums globally.