Born in Jilin Province in 1965, Zhang Enli graduated from the Arts & Design Institute of Wuxi Technical University in 1989. He is based in Shanghai, where he maintains his studio practice and serves as a faculty member at the Arts and Design Institute of Donghua University.

His work is characterized by a distinct painterly style that often isolates domestic objects—such as containers, furniture, or pipes—to explore themes of memory, history, and the human experience. By applying thin, translucent layers of paint, he imbues these ordinary subjects with a sense of psychological depth and atmospheric presence.

Zhang Enli maintains a significant international profile, with his work frequently represented in major global galleries and institutional collections. His practice continues to be recognized for its evolution from figurative depictions of social life to the more abstract, ethereal explorations of space and light that define his current output.