Hu Mingzhi was born in 1940 in Lianshui, Jiangsu province. He entered the middle school attached to the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, in 1958 and graduated from the PLA University of Arts in 1965, becoming a teacher at that university. Throughout his long career, Hu Mingzhi has had many positions including Leader of the Fine Art Dance and Singing Troupe in Shenyang Military Area Command, Secretary of the Creation and Evaluation Committee of the Chinese Artists' Association; Vice Director of the Consulting Department, Director of the Research Department, and General Secretary of the South China Art Center of the Chinese Artists' Association. In 1987, Hu Mingzhi was the Chinese Artists' Association liaison for the Harkness House Exhibition in New York, presented by Robert Hefner. He was also a judge for the 1st Guanshanyue Chinese Painting Award for the 1997 One Hundred Excellent Artists in Chinese Painting Circle. Hu Mingzhi was on the Organizational Committee for bidding for the 29th Olympic games in Beijing, and was on the Selection Committee to choose the emblem of the 2008 Olympic games. He lives in Beijing where he works as a private advisor for numerous arts organizations.