Zhang Jian-min was born in Shanghai in 1941. He has had an academic career as a contract research fellow, specialising in sculpture art at the Shanghai Research Institute of Culture and also as a sculptor at the Shanghai Oil Painting & Sculpture Institute.

Zhang Jian-min has won numerous awards in sculpture design contests and exhibitions. One of his most famous works is a bronze statue of Beethoven. It was made for the Shanghai Symphony Orchestra and is currently being displayed in the Germany Beethoven Memorial. Not only a designer of small size sculptures, Zhang Jian-min has also designed large works for city-wide decoration, namely the square sculpture for Shanghai Railway Station and Shanghai People's Heroes Monument. Zhang Jian-min earned an international reputation for his unique creative style. His works have won the praise of world-famous sculpture master Henry Moore.

Awards/achievements:

"Monument": Won the first prize of Shanghai Urban Sculpture Design Exhibition

            This sculpture was included in the book “The World Sculpture.”

"The Old Cycle": Won the second prize at the 3rd Chinese Sports Art Exhibition.

"Past the Future": Won Excellence Awards at the Eighth National Art Exhibition in Shanghai.

"Win Without Pride; Lose with Grace": Won the second prize of the 4th Chinese Sports Art Exhibition

"Shenjiang Nocturne": Won the third prize of the Ninth National Art Exhibition