Disclosed are an image processing apparatus and method that more efficiently process image data. The image processing apparatus includes a vector data manager that receives at least some of all image data and converts the received image data into vector data, a vector processor that receives the vector data from the vector data manager, performs a vector processing operation by using the vector data, and generates output vector data as a result of the vector processing operation, and a synchronizer that controls a timing of when the vector data manager transmits the vector data to the vector processor.