Humberto Castro was born in Havana, Cuba, in 1957. He graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts San Alejandro and Instituto Superior de Arte (ISA) in Havana. He works in painting, drawing, printmaking, ceramics and installations. In his early years, he also delved into performance art, especially using it as a vehicle for social criticism in his country. 

In 1983 he founded the team Hexagon in which, alongside other artists, he mounted installations aimed at provoking public participation in the work. Between 1980 and 1984 he produces an extensive body of graphics, particularly innovating in the intaglio technique. He has designed sets for theater and film in Cuba.

In 1989 he emigrated to Paris, France, where he lived for ten years and became active in the Parisian intellectual scene, holding exhibitions and giving conferences across Europe. In 1999 he moved to the United States, where he lives and works.

Since the beginning of his career, he has received numerous international awards, and his work is present in notable museum and private collections. His work and artistic attitude have influenced subsequent generations of artists within Cuba.