Shen Shaolun (1935-2003) was from Shanghai. He never received formal art training, although he took art classes with the Shanghai Y.M.C.A. In 1956, he started work in Shanghai's publishing industry, and in 1957, he joined the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House as editor in the propaganda painting section. He resided in New York since the late 1980s.

Shen was specialized in water colors. His work focussed on an intimate presentation of propaganda issues aimed at instilling moral qualities, and was far removed from the more forceful political propaganda themes addressed by others.