Palumbo is the son of science fiction scholar Donald Palumbo and illustrator Julie Bell, brother of artist Anthony Palumbo, and stepson of illustrator Boris Vallejo.[1] He lives in Philadelphia.
He studied painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art in Philadelphia from 2000 to 2004.[1][2] He was "informally mentored" by Bell and Vallejo[1] and also studied with artist Burt Silverman.[3]
According to the science fiction scholar and critic Gary Westfahl, concluding a short biography late in 2012, "If he continues upon his upward path, Palumbo may be able to prove, unlike his stepbrother Dorian Vallejo, that it is not always a burden to have a famous parent."[1]
He often uses models from the Cabaret Red Light and Revival Burlesque troupes.
Palumbo has also been showing personal works in fine art galleries since 2003. Since then, he has shown in galleries in Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, London, and Paris.[3][2][6] In 2010, Brand Studio Press released a collected volume of Palumbo's fine art nudes.[7]