Zhang Biwu (1905-1987) was born in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province. At the age of 15, he went to Shanghai and worked in the Sincere and Wing On department stores. The calendar posters given out at the end of the year by the insurance department of Wing On aroused his interest in painting. After studying painting, he designed calendar posters himself, set up his own studio and made designs for several companies.

After 1949, Zhang became involved in designing propaganda posters, sometimes cooperating with Li Mubai and Jin Xuechen. He was hired as 'special author' by the Shanghai Picture Poster publishing house (上海画片出版社- Shanghai huapian chubanshe) in 1954, and later by the Shanghai People's Fine Arts Publishing House (上海人民美术出版社 - Shanghai renmin meishu chubanshe). His work was awarded several prizes. Zhang was member of the Chinese Artists Association and director of the Shanghai Artists Association.