A native of New York, Groll spent several years studying in Europe at the Royal Academy in Munich, Londin and Antwerp.

Groll first visited the American southwest on a trip to Arizona in 1904 where he befriended Lorenzo Hubbell at his renowned trading post at Ganado. The paintings which resulted from the trip were well received and the artist returned westward on a number of subsequent visits including trips to New Mexico, Yellowstone National Park and Arizona.

He was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1910.