徐书城，1932年生于上海，祖籍浙江海宁，著名书画鉴定家徐邦达之子。家学渊源，自幼习画。曾得到著名画家吴湖帆先生亲灸，并师从著名篆刻家陈巨来先生，颇得传统精粹。50年代曾就读于浙江大学西语系及北京大学历史系，后长期于中国青年艺术剧院及北京剧团从事舞台美术工作。1980年调至中国艺术研究院美术研究所任副研究员，后又任中国文化研究所正研究员，1995年退休。
已发表的专著有《艺术美之谜》（1987年重庆出版社出版）、《走向现代艺术的四步》（译著，文杜里原著，1987年中国文联出版社出版）、《中国画之美》（1989年中国社会科学出版社）、《艺术美学新义》（1989年重庆出版社）、《绘画美学》（1991年人民出版社台湾五南出版社）、《宋代绘画史》（2000年人民美术出版社）、《中国美术史·宋代卷》（2000年齐鲁出版社，主编）、《中国绘画艺术史》（2001年人民美术出版社）。已发表于各类报章杂志的论文有：《马克思主义和美学研究》、《艺术本质之谜》、《艺术创造的审美心理机构》、《大旨谈情――读〈红楼梦〉札记》、《摭谈戏曲美学》、《蠡测文人画问题》、《苏东坡作画与论画》、《重评朱点山水》、《王原祁“仿古”山水的美学本质》等近百篇之多。现为中国美协会员、中华美学学会会员。

Xu Shucheng, was born at Shanghai 1932, sea of ancestral home Zhejiang is peaceful, of Xu Bangda of connoisseur of famous painting and calligraphy child. The home learns origin, be used to of from a child is drawn. Ever got famous artist Mr Wu Hufan kisses moxibustion, and division comes from Chen Ju of home of famous seal cutting gentleman, get a tradition quite pithy. 50 time ever were read at Zhejiang university phylum and Beijing University history are on the west, hind reach Beijing troupe for a long time to be engaged in arena art working at theater of Chinese youth art. Moved to institute of art of Chinese artistic academy to hold the post of deputy researcher 1980, chinese culture institute holds the post of again after researcher, emeritus 1995.
The monograph that already published has " the mystery of artistic beauty " (Chongqing press was published 1987) , " the 4 paces that move toward modern art " (interpret is written, the origianl work in Wen Du, press of Chinese article couplet was published 1987) , " the beauty that China draws " (Chinese society is scientific 1989 press) , " artistic aesthetic is new justice " (1989 Chongqing press) , " brushwork is aesthetic " (1991 people press Taiwan 5 south press) , " Song Daihui, chief editor) , " Chinese brushwork is artistic history " (2001 people art publishing house) . The paper that already published at of all kinds newspapers and magazines has: " Marxism and aesthetic research " , " artistic and substaintial mystery " , " the aesthetic psychology orgnaization of artistic creation " , " big aim talks about affection -- read < red Lou Meng > reading notes " , " pick up talk about opera aesthetic " , " bookman of to be extremely naive draws a question " , " . Show academician of aesthetic of the member that it is Chinese beautiful association, China.