Porfiry Krylov was born in 1902 in the village of Vystavki, in the Tula Province. He attended the Moscow Art School from 1920 to 1922 and then studied at the State Free Art Studios from 1922 to 1926. Krylov was a member of the Union of Soviet Artists and the Moscow Union of Artists.

Krylov's early work was influenced by the avant-garde movements of the time, including Cubism and Futurism. However, by the mid-1930s, he had shifted towards Social Realism, the official style of the Soviet Union. Krylov was known for his paintings of workers, peasants, and soldiers, which celebrated the Soviet ideal of the common man. He also painted landscapes and still lifes. Krylov's work was exhibited widely in the Soviet Union and he received many awards for his art. His paintings can be found in major museums and collections throughout Russia. Krylov continued to paint until his death in 1990.