Deng Xianxian was born in Nanjing in 1980. She completed her secondary education at the Affiliated High School of China Academy of Art (CAA) from September 1995 to July 1999, and her undergraduate education in figure painting at the School of Chinese Painting, CAA from September 1999 to July 2003. She earned her MA from the School of Chinese Painting, CAA after a study period from September 2003 to July 2006. She received her doctorate education from the School of Chinese Painting from September 2007 to July 2011. She joined CAA in August 2006.