Pan Shixun (1934), of Manchu ethnicity, hails from Jilin, Jilin Province. He entered the Oil Painting Department of the Central Art Academy in 1955, and graduated in 1960 from the studio run by Wu Zuoren. He took up teaching and became professor in the Central Art Academy.

Pan, who is proficient in oil painting, has lived in areas inhabited by Tibetans for five longer periods of time since 1963. His work is usually inspired by Tibetan life.