Mischa Askenazy was born in Baronofsky, Russia but as a young boy immigrated to the United States just before the turn of the century. He spent his early years as an artist New York City, eventually exhibiting at the National Academy of Design. He studied art at the Academy under artists Francis Jones, Douglas Volk, and George Maynard. He returned to Europe to continue his artistic training. Here he became exposed to the work of Paul Cezanne and post-impressionism, a style that would permeate his work through his artistic career.

In 1928, Askenazy made his way west, to Los Angeles, California, where he had been commissioned to paint a portrait for a wealthy client. He loved the West Coast climate and decided to stay in California. The region had been known for its Plein–Air painters and California Impressionists, but an artist colony of painters, galleries, and patrons also cultivated a tradition of modern figurative painting. During the 1920s, Askenazy continued to paint portraits as well as landscapes and still-lifes. He is known as one of the West Coast most notable painters and he is widely collected among California art collectors.