Ganesh Haloi was born in Mymensingh in present-day Bangladesh in 1936. The Partition of India forced him to leave his birth place, this experience deeply affected him and we see its reflection in his art pieces. In 1956, he graduated from the Government College of Art and Craft, Calcutta (now Kolkata).  Later, he joined the same institution as a teacher and worked there till his retirement.

He worked with the Archaeological Survey of India. His job entailed copying of Ajanta frescos. This experience had a profound effect on him. He is the member of the Society of Contemporary Artists. His work has been featured in various exhibitions in India and abroad — Kolkata in 1962 and 2003, Melbourne in 1991, New York in 1995 and Gurgaon in 2002.

In 1991, the Government of India honoured him with Rabindra Bharati and Siromani Puraskar. The acclaimed artist lives and works in Kolkata.