On April 16, 1927, John Angus Chamberlain is born to Mary Francis Walker and Claude Chester Chamberlain in Rochester, Indiana. His father is responsible for the family tavern, Chamberlain's, which was originally established in 1921 by the artist's grandfather, Jesse Chamberlain.

In 1959, Chamberlain relocates his family to Camp Hill Road in Pomona, Rockland County, New York, while maintaining his studio loft on Broadway. He also starts working at Jerry's beauty shop in Rockland County. This job at the beauty shop is significant as it marks his final formal employment before being able to sustain himself through his artistic pursuits. This transition is facilitated in part by the support of collector and taxicab magnate Robert C. Scull.

in 1966 Chamberlain experiments with making a small number of fiberglass sculptures based on French-curve drawings. These sculptures are solid and curvaceous, sculpted around steel armatures. Some of them incorporate metal detailing on the surface. However, Chamberlain later views these and his fabricated metal sculptures from late 1965 as unsuccessful experiments.