Hu Zhenyu (1939, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province) graduated from the Oil Painting Department of the Zhejiang Academy of Fine Arts in 1964. In 1966, he became editor of the Hebei Fine Arts Publishing House [河北美术出版社, Hebei meishu chubanshe]. In 1984, he went to Belgium to study at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Ghent.

Hu is professor at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, managing director of the Chinese Oil Painters Association, a member of the Chinese Artists Association, and vice-president of the Zhejiang Oil Painters Association. He collaborated with Xie Zhigao.