Gu Gan (1942-2020) was from Changsha, Hunan Province. He graduated from the middle school attached to the Central Art Academy in 1962. In 1975, he was assigned to work in the People's Literature Publishing House where he worked as an art editor for a long time. He was one of the initiators of the new wave of Chinese modern calligraphy art; he organized and participated in the first exhibition of modern calligraphy in 1985.

Gu was known for his drawings and calligraphy.