Born in Shanghai in 1960, Yan Pei-Ming moved to France in 1981 to study at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Dijon. He has remained based in France throughout his career, establishing himself as a significant figure in contemporary figurative painting.

His practice is defined by the use of large brushes and a restricted color palette, typically black and white or red and white. His work often explores themes of history, power, and memory through the lens of portraiture, utilizing gestural strokes that create a sense of urgency and structural depth.