Wu Lieyan (1956) was born in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. He graduated from the Department of Fine Arts, majoring in decoration design in 1980. In 2001, graduated from the Nanjing University of the Arts, majoring in fine arts, with a doctorate degree.

In 2004, he participated in the "Big Communication" series of workshops between the Netherlands Academy of Arts and the School of Design of the Nanjing University of the Arts.