Gilbert Atencio was born in Colorado and raised at San Ildefonso pueblo in New Mexico, before going to high school in Santa Fe. He is a nephew of the renowned potter, Maria Martinez. In addition to being a painter, Atencio also applied his abilities to being a medical and technical illustrator. His work is in major collections including at the Heard Museum in Phoenix, the School of American Research in Santa Fe, the Philbrook Art Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the Institute of American Indian Art and the Museum of Northern Arizona.

Gilbert Atencio is cited in Southwest Indian Painting by Tanner, American Indian Painting by Dunn, Pueblo Indian Painting by Brody, Biographical Directory of American Indian Painters by Lester, When the Rainbow Touches Down by Seymour, American Indian Painters A Biographical Directory by Snodgrass and the Biographical Directory of American Indian Painters by Lester.