Jon Tarleton was born in 1968 to John and Grace Tarleton in Raleigh, North Carolina. He has spent most of his life in North Carolina. He remains a resident of the Tarheel (or in his mind Wolfpack) state to this day.

Jon attended Davidson College, earning a degree in anthropology in 1990. In 1998, inspired by a Picasso show in Atlanta, he enrolled at UNC Charlotte to study art. He eventually earned a BFA, concentrating in printmaking. Since then he has married and had a girl, Eliza Ruth, born on September 9, 2004. Marrying Kristin Dodd and having Eliza Ruth are by far the two most important events in his life to this point. He imagines and hopes they will always be the most important events.

Among memorable places he has visited are the Tate Museums in London, the Hirshhorn Museum, the National Gallery, Jane Austen's home and Cashel Cathedral in Ireland. Years ago he traveled to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He has touched an el Lissitzky lithograph signed in pencil (with permission) and has laid his hand on the desk Jane Austen used to write much of her work.

Each of the aforementioned experiences has been inspirational. These experiences and others have come together to help define who Jon is- and who Jon is can very much be seen in his art.