Born 1887 in present-day Vitebsk, Belarus. His original name was Moishe Zakharovich Shagal.

In 1907, he went to Russia to enroll in a school run by Nikolas Roerich, but found himself unsatisfied and in 1909 transferred to Zvantseva's school.

Spent 5 years in Paris from 1910, after which he returned home. His early Paris works show the influence of Cubism. His Russia works showed a heavy influence of constructivism from his involvement in the Russian Avant Garde and included many design heavy works, but after leaving the country his works shifted more towards "Love".

In 1923, he returned to Paris once more.

In 1941, fled from the Nazis to the United States. Returned to Paris in 1947 and obtained French citizenship. 1960, awarded the Erasmus Prize. The same year, he was asked by the Minister of Culture, Andre Malraux, to create a ceiling mural for the Palais Garnier opera house. 1966, donated the 17 work series Biblical Message to the government.

To house these works and others by Chagall, Malraux allotted land in Nice to establish a national museum. In 1973, on Chagall's 86th birthday, the Marc Chagall National Biblical Message Museum (now the Marc Chagall National Museum) was opened in Nice.

Passed away in 1985.