Born in Shanghai, Shi Yi is one of the most well known Chinese contemporary woodblock print artists. Celebrated for his technically stunning designs of village life and rural China, he has garnered an international following. Shi Yi graduated from the China Academy of Art in 1965 with a degree in woodblock printing. He went on to become a professor at Yunnan Arts University, serving also as the vice president of the Arts Department and the head of the Prints Teaching and Research Office. In 1993, Shi Yi enjoyed a solo exhibition at the University of California at Los Angeles. Today, Shi's work can be found in institutions such as The Muban Foundation, London.