Paul Goodnight born in Chicago 1946 was raised in Boston, MA Connecticut, where he was raised by a foster family. After high school, Goodnight was drafted into the Army, the war in Vietnam. The experience changed him and he was unable to speak because of the horrors he saw, soon after, Goodnight began to paint. Finding release in his art, Goodnight regained his voice and enrolled in the Vesper George School of Art, taking English classes at a nearby community college to help him along the way. In 1976 he earned his B.A. from the Massachusetts College of Art. Goodnight continued to create, and in 1984 one of his works was displayed on an episode of The Cosby Show. Since then his works have been featured in such programs as Seinfeld, ER and Living Single. Goodnight then began traveling the world, studying the art of the Caribbean, Africa, Russia and Asia, as well as working under contemporary masters such as Alan Crite and John Biggers.

His works adorn the homes of many including such notable as Maya Angelou, Wesley Snipes and Samuel L Jackson, as well as the halls of the Smithsonian Institute. In 1996 Goodnight was commissioned to create a piece for the 1996 Olympic Games, and in 1998 he designed the World Cup Poster.

Through the years, he has developed his own unique aesthetic philosophy to document the humanity of people around the world. His African themes and symbols provide a one-of-a-kind depth to history and culture

Today, he continues to work in a variety of media, including acrylics, pastels, and mixed media.