Ye Wulin (1944) was born in Xi'an, Shaanxi Province. In 1964, he entered the Oil Painting Department of the Central Art Academy. From 1964 onwards, he participated in various political movements and the Cultural Revolution. After graduation in 1967, he was sent to the countryside to work. In 1973, he was sent to work in the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications, where he designed postage stamps in the Stamp Production Office. He transferred to the Beijing Film Academy in 1978, where he became an associate professor. In 1988, he went to France as an art visiting scholar, and later applied for a position as a painter in an American gallery. He lived in the United States for many years. He returned to China in 1993 and became a professional painter.

Ye is specialized in oil paintings, but also known for his murals, ink paintings, illustrations, and sculptures. His works have been collected by museums such as the National Art Museum of China, the former Museum of the Chinese Revolution, the Museum of Modern Chinese Literature and various private collections. His large-scale murals, sculptures and other public works have been installed in memorial places in many cities across the country.