Canaday earned his BA in French and English literature from the University of Texas and his MA in painting and art history from Yale. Canaday went on to teach at Washburn University of Topeka, Newcomb College, Tulane University and several other schools. He served as a French Interpreter for the Bureau of Economic Welfare in 1943 and joined the United States Marine Corps the next year. During World War II, he served as a lieutenant in the air warning squadron in the Pacific. Afterwards, he began career as an art critic for the New York Times and remained in this position for 17 years. Canaday has published multiple books during including art history textbooks as well as crime novels. He has also written for the Smithsonian magazine, The New Republic and The New York Times.
