Xu Ling (1918-deceased) was born in Tianjin. In 1936, he graduated from Beiping National Art College. After 1938, he served as deputy head of the Eighth Route Army Propaganda Team. Xu used to be the creator of the Art Research Office of the General Information Administration, the editor-in-chief of the Guangming Daily (光明日报), the director of the Warrior Pictorial (战士画报), the director of the Fine Arts Department of the Art Bureau of the Ministry of Culture, and dean of Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts

Xu was known for his woodcuts and paintings.