Roberto Rafael Navarrete, born in Queens, New York, was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. Navarrete and his four siblings are first generation Peruvian Americans. Navarrete and his two brothers are third generation hardwood floor men. Working in construction throughout his life introduced him to numerous species of wood and continues to influence Navarrete's work. This sparked his appreciation for knots as being discarded, beautiful and full of history. He graduated from Georgia State University in 2011 where he received his Bachelors in Fine Arts with a focus in Drawing, Painting, and Printmaking. His work has been included in several national exhibitions. In 2015, Navarrete received The Graduate Teaching Assistantship at Florida Atlantic University and was awarded The Community Engagement Initiative Grant in 2018. Navarrete currently resides in South Florida where he received his Masters in Fine Arts (2018) at Florida Atlantic University with a focus in Painting, Photography and Mixed Media Installations.