Born in Damascus, Burhan Karkutli graduated from the Faculty of Fine Arts in Cairo in 1952. He worked briefly as a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Damascus University. He spent a significant amount of time in Spain, Morocco, Mexico, and Venezuela. In each country, he engaged in the local artistic and political movements. He eventually settled in Germany, where he lived for the remainder of his life.
Inspired by folk art, Karkutli dedicated his work to political causes. He is best known for his artistic contributions to the Palestinian struggle. His distinctive black-and-white drawings feature simplified human and animal forms outlined in bold black, with motifs and patterns filling the spaces between. He worked across various media, including posters, book covers, and editorial illustrations.