Barlow studied at Chelsea College of Art (1960–63) and the Slade School of Art (1963–66).
After joining the staff in the late 1960s, Barlow taught at the Slade School of Art for more than forty years before retiring in 2009 and is now Emerita Professor of Fine Art.
Phyllida Barlow has had an important influence on younger generations of artists through her work and long teaching career in London art schools.
At the Slade School of Fine Art, her students included Turner Prize-winning and nominated artists Rachel Whiteread and Angela de la Cruz.
In 2011 Barlow became a Royal Academician and in 2015 she was made a CBE for her services to the arts in the Queen's New Year Honours.
In 2017, Barlow represented Great Britain at the Venice Biennale.