Chen was admitted to the Stage Art major of Anhui Huangmei Opera Art Vocational College in 1977. In 1983, he was admitted to Zhejiang Academy of Art (now CAA) and majored in Oil Painting. Chen graduated with a bachelor degree four years later and began teaching in CAA. In 1993, he graduated from CAA's postgraduate program of Oil Painting. During 2001 and 2002, Chen was invited to visit International Arts City, Paris, France for academic exchange.