Wu Ran (1928-2020) was born in Xiaoxian County, Suzhou, Anhui Province. His mother was a peasant woman who was good at paper-cutting. In 1949, he joined the Chinese People's Liberation Army in his hometown and served as a member of the army's art troupe, art editor, and creator. In 1959, he transferred to the Tianjin Baihua Literature and Art Publishing House as an art editor. In 1963, he was transferred to the Tianjin Branch of the Chinese Artists Association to engage in professional creation. During the Cultural Revolution, he was sent back to his hometown to work. In 1980, he was transferred to the Tianjin Academy of Painting as a professional painter.

Wu was known for his printmaking.