Born in Taichung, Taiwan in 1960, Hong Tianyu graduated from the Provincial Hsinchu Teachers College in 1980. In 1985, he won second place in the provincial public art exhibition, followed by selection for the provincial art exhibition in 1986 and the Xiongshi Newcomer Award in 1987. In 1996, at the age of over 30, Hong Tianyu was invited to participate in the 1996 Taipei Biennial at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum, marking the beginning of his interaction with the museum. In 1998, he was selected for the Taipei Award competition. In 2000, he won first place in the Taipei Fine Arts Museum's inaugural Liao Jichun Oil Painting Creation Award. In 2001, he held a solo exhibition titled "Memoirs for the Next Generation of Formosa" at the Taipei Fine Arts Museum. In 2008, he participated in the Taipei Fine Arts Museum's "City Without Walls" collaborative exhibition. Additionally, Hong Tianyu has been actively involved in international joint exhibitions curated by the Gao Mei Art Museum and the National Art Museum, establishing himself as a prominent artist in recent exhibition activities.