Born in Wilmington, Ohio, Robert Spahr received a BFA Degree from the Art Academy of Cincinnati and an MFA from Parson's School of Design, New York City.

Founder and curator of the Kraine Theatre Gallery (1992-1994), Spahr also conceived and organized evenings of theatre, music, dance, film, and performance art which coincided with the gallery's openings. At this time he was also founder and moderator of the Live Art Workshop (1993-1994), a group of multi-disciplinary artists, working together to develop collaborative performance.

Spahr then moved on to Co-found and become the Artistic Director of Expanded Arts (1995-1997), a critically acclaimed theatre company that produced numerous productions in its "Storefront Theatre" as well as producing "Free Shakespeare in the Park(ing) Lot. The successful off-broadway "Shakespeare's R&J " was first produced by Expanded Arts in September of 1997. It is now the longest running Romeo & Juliet in the history of Broadway.

In 1998 he founded brainwrench.com, a website of digital images that can be sent as electronic greeting cards. The sacred and profane are all expressed through innocent appearing eCards that turn the BlueMountain.com and American Greetings format upside down.

For his current work Spahr creates automated scripts and algorithms that harvest images off the internet as source material, which are then used to generate a new image he calls "Crufts." In an attempt to democratize art making, Spahr also creates multiples in an unlimited edition with supplied "source files." Those interested in owning a Robert Spahr multiple are encouraged to download the "source files" and follow the instructions to create the art object for themselves. By exactly following the source file instructions, the created work will be considered part of this unlimited edition

Robert Spahr has lived and worked in New York City since 1989. He is currently an Adjunct Professor at the State University of New York, Purchase College, and Dowling College on Long Island.