Its predecessor was the National Academy of Art founded by Mr. Cai Yuanpei in 1928. It is the first highest art education institution in modern China to carry out undergraduate and postgraduate education, and it is also the only China University of the Arts recognized by UNESCO. Its aim is to carry forward national culture, integrate Chinese and western arts and create art of the times. After Lin Fengmian, the first dean, there were,, Pan Tianshou, Wang,, Mo Pu,, and Pan. The current dean is an oil painter, art educator and art manager ms2 1 1.

Commentator Professor Xu Jiang