Conrad Kiesel was born in Düsseldorf, Prussia [now North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany] on 29 November 1846 and was the son of Karl Kiesel (1812–1903), Director of the Königlichen Gymnasium in Düseldorf. He initially studied architecture at the Königlichen Akademie der Baukunst before training as in sculptor with Fritz Schaper (1841-1919). After creating a few statuettes and busts, he moved to Berlin and studied painting with Fritz Paulsen (1838-1898). He then returned to Düsseldorf where he continued his studies under the painter Wilhelm Sohn (1830-1899) at the Kunstakademie. He eventually settled in Berlin in 1885. Kiesel subsequently worked primarily as a painter. His subject matter was mainly depictions of young, beautiful girls or women, often in rich interiors.