河北交河人。现为中国美术家协会会员，甘肃省美协副主席，兰州市美协主席，兰州市文联主席，兰州市政协副主席。
1958年入兰州艺术学院美术系予科，结业后开始本科油画专业学习，1962年合并到西北师范大学美术系本科油画专业班继续学业，1964年毕业。1965年后在兰州十八中担任中学美术教师多年，1980年到兰州市文联工作至今，先后任文学刊物美编、美协副主席、协会部主任、文联副主席、文联主席职务。1959年开始美术创作，作品形式涉及版画、连环画、油画、中国人物画等多门类艺术，且均有所建树。七十年代初，开始潜心致力于中国山水画的研究与创作实践，在表现西北高原山野风光题材方面独有情钟，展现出特色鲜明的个人艺术语言和风格。郭文涛画笔下的西部山水，气势磅礴，旷达刚劲。构图雄浑壮阔，用笔酣畅淋漓。为表现西部山脉的深沉和凝重，在皴法上进行了大胆的探索和尝试，形成了凌厉鲜明的独家面貌。在人物画创作上，郭文涛善于从中国传统文化中汲取养分，技法上兼取写实风格和文人画的笔意，写照生动传神，情致富于诗的韵味，意蕴洒脱而又空灵。
代表作品《军长之路》(合作)、连环画《四明传奇》、国画《夕照图》先后参加了全国第六、七、八届和第九届美展，以及“91年北京中国山水画邀请展”、“97香港回归中国百家艺术瓷画大展”、国画《关山胜迹图》参加“98当代中国山水画、油画风景画展”、“跨世纪暨建国50周年全国山水画大展”等展项。“中南海珍藏书画集”、“现代山水画库”、“当代中国画名家作品集”等收入作品多幅。香港亚洲艺术出版社、世界华人美术名家出版社先后两次出版个人画集，江苏美术出版社出版“钟馗画”大型人物画挂历。近年来分别在兰州、澳门、汕头举办三次个人画展。连环画《军长之路》入选第六届全国美展，并获甘肃省首届美术作品评奖优秀奖，首届连环画作品评奖优秀奖；中国画《猪娃娃》参加1986年西北五省区美展，《高原人家》为青海省博物馆收藏。中国文联、中国美协评其为“99中国百杰画家”。
出版有《郭文涛画集》等。

Heibei meets river person. It is Chinese artist academician now, the Gansu Province is beautiful assist vice-chairman, lanzhou city is beautiful assist chairman, chairman of couplet of Lanzhou city article, vice-chairman of Lanzhou city the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.
Entering art of Lanzhou art institute 1958 is to grant division, hind of complete a course begins major of undergraduate course canvas to learn, incorporated 1962 class of major of canvas of undergraduate course of faculty of art of northwest Normal University continues school work, graduated 1964. Be in after 1965 Lanzhou 18 in hold the position of teacher of middle school art old, worked to couplet of Lanzhou city article 1980 up to now, hold the post of literary journal beauty to make up early or late, beautiful assist post of chairman of couplet of vice-chairman of vice-chairman, couplet of institute department head, article, article. Began art creative work 1959, work form involves picture of character of woodcut, comic, canvas, China to wait for much class art, and all make a contribution somewhat. At the beginning of seventies, begin with great concentration to devote oneself to the research of Chinese landscape painting and creation practice, behaving respect of subject matter of tough view of northwest highland hill particular situation bell, develop the individual art language with a bright characteristic and style. Guo Wentao draws the wording and purpose of what one writes western landscape, of great momentum, broad-minded bold. Composition of a picture is vigorous and firm and grand, with dripping wet of pen merry and lively. For expression western of the mountain range dark with dignified, bold exploration and attempt had on chapped law, formed the exclusive appearance with distinctive swift and fierce. Creation is drawn in the character, guo Wentao is good at from nutrient of the derive in Chinese traditional culture, hold concurrently on ability law take realistically style and the pen suggestion that bookman draws, portraiture is vivid lifelike, affection sends the lasting appeal of rich Yu Shi, meaning accumulate free and easy and empty spirit.
Masterpiece is tasted " the road of army commander " (collaboration) , comic " 4 bright legend " , traditional Chinese painting " afterglow pursues " entered the throughout the country early or late the 6th, 7, with the 9th 8 times the United States is exhibited, and " 91 years Beijing China landscape painting invites exhibit " , " artistic encaustic exhibits a hunderd schools of China of regression of 97 Hong Kong greatly " , traditional Chinese painting " Guan Shansheng mark pursues " attend " landscape of landscape painting of 98 contemporary China, canvas is exhibited " , " cross century and found a state 50 years. "Nanhai precious collects books in picture collect " , " contemporary landscape painting library " , " collect of work of a person of academic or artistic distinction of the traditional Chinese painting in now " wait for income work many. Press of artistic press of Hong Kong Asia, famous expert of world Chinese art publishs an individual twice to draw volume early or late, jiangsu art publishing house is published " Zhong Kui is drawn " large character draws calendar. Part to hold individual art exhibition 3 times in head of Lanzhou, Macao, Shan in recent years. Comic " the road of army commander " selected beauty of the 6th whole nation is exhibited, obtain the Gansu Province decide on awards through discussion of first art work is excellent award, decide on awards through discussion of first comic work is excellent award; China is drawn " pig baby " attend beauty of 5 provinces area exhibited northwest 1986, " downy other people " save museum to collect for Qinghai. Chinese article couplet, China is beautiful assist judge its to be " 100 outstanding painters of 99 China " .
Publish have " Guo Wentao draws volume " etc.