Vassily Romanenkov was born in the village of Bogdanovka (Smolensk Oblast). In 1968, he moved to the Kosino state farm near Moscow to live with his mother. There, he apprenticed as a carpenter. His early compositions were distinguished by the random nature of various shapes and patterns. Later, his works became more structured, with form reflecting his cyclical worldview. In this vision, he addressed his own biography—his birth, baptism, and death—as well as the history and destiny of both ancient and modern Russia. Romanenkov worked as a gardener until his death.

Vassily Romanenkov is one of the iconic figures of Russian Art Brut. His work is featured in some of the world's finest collections of Art Brut.