Zhao Panbin (1921-2012) was born in Anguo, Hebei Province. He joined the Eight Route Army, the predecessor of the People's Liberation Army, in 1938, and created art while engaged in combat. In 1942, he entered the Lu Xun Academy in Yan'an for art studies. He was active in the Northeast, waging propaganda, in 1945, and he followed the troops south in 1948 during the war against the Guomindang. After the founding of the PRC in 1949, Zhao found time for study again. He entered the Central Art Academy in 1950, and in 1955 he became an editor with the Tianjin Fine Arts Publishing House. Only in 1980, he transferred to the Tianjin Art Gallery, where he worked until his retirement in 1988.

Zhao was known for his wood blocks and New Year prints.