Pascal (Pat) Cucaro was born in Youngstown, Ohio on November 6, 1915, to Italian immigrant parents. He worked in the circus during his childhood summers. These experiences giving him a lifelong interest in clowns, and circus life. The painting of Pascal Cucaro is characterized by a bold gestural quality, complimented by a thick application of paint. In some cases, the artwork has paint so thick it seems to have been applied straight from the tube. After serving in World War II, he attended the California School of Fine Arts in San Francisco, then returned to Europe to spend time in France, Spain, and Italy in order to study art on his own. Pascal Cucaro became part of the art scene during the lively 'Beat' years in San Francisco's North Beach section. He exhibited his work at the Black Cat Cafe, The Iron Pot, The Lion Book Shop, The City Lights Book Shop, Vesuvio's, and The Hungry I. A one-man art show held at the Butler Institute of American Art at his hometown in 1958 was followed by other exhibitions in California, as well as Hawaii and Japan. He was nominated for the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1965.