David Gilboa was born in Romania. He studied at Academy of Fine Art, Bucharest, Romania, during the years of 1927-29. 

 

He immigrated to Israel in 1933 and settled in Tsfat. He is one of the founders of the Artist’s Quarter, Safed. 

He was known as a  landscape painter until he discovered the human element, which he had previously considered of secondary importance. He then concentrated on painting people.