Olle Baertling was born in Halmstad, Sweden. He spent the majority of his career in Stockholm, where he died in 1981. Since the 1950s, Baertling's work has been presented in many solo and group exhibitions, both in Sweden and internationally. In 1954, he represented Sweden at the Venice Biennial. He was honoured with several important prizes, including the award of the 7. Biennial of Sao Paulo in 1963. In 1981, Malmö Konsthall and Stockholm's Moderna Museet compiled the first comprehensive survey exhibition of Baertling's work. In 2001, Kunsthalle Kiel presented a major retrospective. Galerie Nordenhake presented its first solo show with the artist in 1976.