Yang Xianrang (1930) is from Mouping, Shandong Province. After his graduation from the Drawing Department of the Central Art Academy, he was assigned to work as an artist and editor at the People's Fine Arts Publishing House. In 1958, he was transferred to the Research Office of the Ministry of Culture, and in 1961, he was transferred again, this time to a teaching position in the Blockprint Department of the Central Art Academy.

Yang specializes in blockprints, but is well-versed in oil painting and Chinese painting. He collaborated in poster design with Ma Changli and Yin Rongsheng.