Born in Moscow, Serge Poliakoff moved to Paris in 1923, where he spent the majority of his career. He initially studied music before turning to painting, eventually enrolling at the Académie Frochot and later the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. His early exposure to the works of Wassily Kandinsky and Robert Delaunay significantly influenced his transition toward abstraction.

Poliakoff is best known for his non-figurative paintings that utilize dense, saturated colors and geometric shapes that appear to fit together like a mosaic. His work is frequently categorized under Tachisme, a style of abstract painting that emphasizes spontaneous brushwork and intuitive composition. Throughout his career, he experimented with various media, including gouache, oil, and lithography, often applying paint in thick, textured layers.

His legacy remains firmly established within the history of 20th-century European modernism. His works are held in major museum collections worldwide, reflecting his sustained influence on the development of post-war abstract art in France.