Born in 1903, Harry Shoulberg attended City College of New York where he studied biochemical engineering for three years before switching to fine arts in his last year. He continued his art education at the John Reed School, 1934–1935; the American Artists School, 1935–1937; and then privately at the studios of artists Sol Wilson (1894–1974) and Carl Holty. In 1944, he became a member of the National Serigraph Society.