Born in Romania, Paul Ackerman was 4 years old when his parents moved to Paris in 1912, choosing to flee the ambient anti-Semitism. In the 1930s, he frequented Fernand Léger's workshop, designing poster, fabric and jewelry projects for Elsa Schiaparelli and Marcel Rochas. Taken prisoner then released during the Second World War, he took refuge in the south-east where he formed a great friendship with Pierre Bonnard.

At the Liberation he returned to his Parisian studio, frequented Jean-Michel Atlan, Jean Dubuffet, Serge Poliakoff and Alexandre Garbell. Classified among the artists of the New School of Paris, his painted work oscillates between abstraction - in the 50s and 60s - and the figuration that he practiced throughout his life.

The esoteric dimension constitutes the common thread of his career, up to his cycle devoted to Agatha - this ideal underground world inspired by Buddhist myths that appeared in 19th century French literature which finds resonance in the New Age movement - Paul Ackerman declares: “I am above all a painter of the unconscious. I'm looking for anything that can free him. I even paint my dreams."