Paul LaPaglia was born in New York City in 1944 and attended the High School of Music & Art. He later studied life drawing at the Art Students League under Sidney Dickinson and continued his training at the Brooklyn Museum Art School with Louise Grebenak and David Levine.
From 1965 to 1979, he worked at the Library and Museum of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, conserving works of art on paper and assisting with exhibitions. During this time, he maintained an active painting practice, exhibiting at venues including the National Academy of Design and several New York galleries.
In 1980, LaPaglia moved to Nantucket with his wife, Giovanna, a ballet dancer and teacher. His work reflects the influence of Impressionist and Post‑Impressionist traditions and has been exhibited at numerous Nantucket galleries, including Main Street Gallery, Sailors Valentine Gallery, East End Gallery, and Nantucket Looms.


