Liu Jilu (1915-1983) was born in Tianjin. His father Liu Kuiling (刘奎龄), a well-known artist, taught him drawing and painting. At 16, Liu entered the Western Painting Department of the Tianjin Municipal Art Museum. In 1947 he had his first solo exhibition. In 1949 he started working for the Art Bureau of the Ministry of Culture of the People's Republic of China. In 1950, he was transferred to the People's Fine Arts Publishing House as a creative staff member.

Liu excelled in the traditional Chinese painting style, and became very famous for the technical mastery of his brushwork and his lively representation of characters.