Wu Shanggong (1940) is from Yuanping, Shanxi Province. After his graduation from the Art Training School of Shanxi University in 1965, he joined the team that was restoring the wall paintings in the Yonglegong (Lama) Temple in Beijing. In 1971, he transferred to the Shanxi Provincial Creative Office. He was attached to the Shanxi Art Institute.

Wu is specialized in oil paintings and blockprints, but he has also been awared prized for his propaganda designs.