Harry Lum was born as the fourth son of Chinese immigrant parents and spent his formative years in the bustling Chinatown of San Francisco. After graduating from Lowell High School, he went on to earn his BA ('53) and MA ('54) from UC Berkeley.

Harry was heavily influenced by renowned painters of his time, such as Paul Wonner and Richard Diebenkorn, who inspired him to view figuration as a way to explore what it meant to be human. Over the course of his artistic career, Harry's practice evolved alongside major art movements. He began with Bay Area Figurative painting before transitioning to Minimalism and later exploring Conceptual art. In his later years, Harry's works took on a raw and politically charged style, fearlessly confronting some of the most pressing issues of his time.

Throughout his life, Harry remained committed to his singular artistic journey, painting for over six decades. He was driven by a deep intellectual curiosity and a fierce independence, which enabled him to create works that were truly unique and inspiring.