Wang Zhijie was born in Beijing in 1931. In 1947, Wang Zhi Jie graduated in Art from Yu Cai School, Shanghai. He then chose to further his studies at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Beijing, from where he graduated in 1953 and remained for a further two years to gain his Master's Certificate. After several years tutoring at the Institute on completion of his studies, Wang became a professional artist. In 1980, he was invited by the East China Normal University to establish their Art Education Dept. On its completion, he became a professor there. As a highly skilled oil painter, Wang is a member of the Art Educational Material Evaluation Committee (and therefore, by proxy, of the National Education Committee), as well as a member of the Chinese Artists Association.