Umberto Bruni was born on November 24, 1914 in Montréal. At the age of 13, he learned painting and decoration (mural and stainedglass) under the direction of Guido Nincheri. From 1930 to 1938, he studied (night and day) at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montréal where he received several honourable mentions. He taught at the Académie Querbes in Outremont in 1939 and at the École des Beaux-Arts de Montréal from 1947 to 1969. He exhibited solo and in group more than 30 times in Québec and Europe. In 1972, he was named director and curator of the UQAM art gallery.

In 1980, he retired as a teacher from the Université du Québec in Montréal to devote himself full time to painting. In 1961-1962, he received a grant from Canada concil. Then, the Québec government also give him a grant in 1972. Umberto Bruni is a member of several learned societies, and also national and international academies, including The International Institute for Conservation of Historical & Artistic Works, in London, England, the academia Gentium Pro Pace in Rome, and the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.

As a student at the École des Beaux-Arts in Montréal, he won first prizes and honourable mentions. In April 1989, he was awarted the Golden Lion by the Order Sons of Italy in Canada, a prestigious award for excellence indicating his contribution to Canadian society as a teacher and artist.