Liu Kaiqu, born in 1904 in Anhui province, is the founder of Chinese modern sculpture research and education, a celebrated Chinese modern sculptor. He enrolled in the National Peking Art School in 1920, and furthered his study in the department of sculpture of ENSBA(Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts) in 1927. He was appointed the president of the department of sculpture of Hangzhou National Art College, the president of Hangzhou National Art College, the vice-president of China Central Academy of Fine Arts, and was in charge of the design of the Monument to the People's Heroes from 1952 to 1956. He engraved portraits for many Chinese celebrities including Chairman Mao, Premier Zhou, Sun Zhongshan, Lu Xun, and ancient poet Du Fu and Liu Yuxi, etc.