Yue Minjun (born 1962) is a contemporary Chinese artist based in Beijing.

He is best known for oil paintings depicting himself in various settings frozen in laughter.

His signature style developed out of portraits of his bohemian friends and soon became a popular investment for foreigners looking to capitalize on China's opening to the west.

His piece 'Execution' became the most expensive work ever by a Chinese contemporary artist, when it sold in 2007 for £2.9 million pounds ($5.9 million) at Sotheby's in London.

The record sale took place one week after his painting 'Massacre of Chios' sold at Sotheby's in Hong Kong for nearly $4.1 million.