He was born in Warsaw and educated there as well as in Vienna and Paris. He was strongly influenced by the école de Paris but with rather realistic and anti-impressionist style. In 1926 his works were on display in Salon des Indépendants and Salon d'Automne and in 1952 he had a large exposition of his paintings in New York City.
Rajmund Kanelba lived most of his life in France but died in London.