曾用名黄祖耀，生于广东省中山市，少时就读于香港，喜爱诗画文艺，八岁习书法，受家庭影响。十二岁从名师邓尔雅先生学书。其后在上海从事美术漫画活动，并任上海大众出版社编辑，1938年以后，在广州、重庆、上海等地工作及从事文艺活动，1950年后，定居北京。
1932年至1938年任上海市政府租界办事处办事员，卫戍司令部中尉书记，上海市公安局科员兼大众出版社《大众画报》、《小说半月刊》编辑，上海市禁烟委员会科员，南京《扶轮日报》编辑，上海市政府机要室科员，广东省政府秘书。1939年至1949年任香港《国民日报》经理，国民党中央海外部部长室总干事、中央秘书处秘书长办公室总干事，财政部荐任秘书、简任秘书兼广东省银行监察人、中国实业银行董事，中央银行秘书处副处长兼行政院美援运用委员会秘书处处长、中央信托局秘书处处长。
1949年后先在华北革命大学政治研究院学习，后任政务院秘书厅秘书，《新民报》副总经理，人民美术出版社编辑，中国书协常务理事，中国美协理事，民革中央监察委会常委。20世纪80年代后，黄苗子曾任全国文学艺术界联合会委员、全国书法家协会常务委员、全国美术家协会委员等。是第七届全国政协委员。1992年以后，曾任澳大利亚昆士兰州的格里非斯大学客座教授、名誉教授。
著名漫画家、美术史家、美术评论家、书法家、作家。早年就读于香港中华中学，八岁学书，师从邓尔雅先生。在香港时就向报刊投稿所创作的漫画作品。二十世纪三十年代初到上海，先后在《大众画报》、《小说》半月刊做编辑，继续从事漫画创作。三十年代中期至四十年代中期，在上海、重庆等地参加抗日文化活动。解放后，任人民美术出版社编辑。八十年代后曾担任过中国美术家协会理事、中国书法家协会常务理事、全国文联委员，第五、六、七届政协全国委员会委员。其书法作品曾在日本、英国、德国、韩国、澳大利亚以及我国台湾、香港和内地展出，并为大英博物馆收藏。著作有散文集《货郎集》、《敬惜字纸》、《无梦庵流水账》、《青灯琐记》、《风雨落花》等，诗集有《牛油集》、《三家诗》等，美术论著有《吴道子事辑》、《八大山人传》、《画坛师友录》、《艺林一枝》等，书画集有《黄苗子书法选》、《中国书法精品选——黄苗子》、《苗子杂书》等。
黄苗子是我国的老漫画家、美术史家、美术评论家、著名书法家。其书画作品曾在日本、德国、韩国、台湾、香港等国家和地区展出。
著有美术论著：《美术欣赏》、《古美术杂记》、《吴道子事辑》、《画家徐悲鸿》、《八大山人传》、《画坛师友录》、《艺林一枝》；画册有《黄苗子与郁风》夫妇画集等；书法有《黄苗子书法选》、《中国书法精品选--黄苗子》、《草书木兰词》等；杂文集《敬惜字纸》；散文集《货郎集》。

Ever used a Huang Zuyao, unripe Yu Andong visits Zhongshan town, little when read at Hong Kong, like a poetry the picture is literary, calligraphy of 8 years old of be used to, suffer domestic effect. From renown division Mr Deng Erya learns a book 12 years old. Undertake art caricature activity in Shanghai ever since, hold the post of editor of Shanghai masses press, after 1938, in and other places of Guangzhou, Chongqing, Shanghai the job is reached undertake literary activity, after 1950, resident Beijing.
Came to held the post of clerk of agency of Shanghai government concession 1938 1932, secretary of garrison headquarters lieutenant, a member of an administrative section of Shanghai public security bureau holds masses press concurrently " masses pictorial " , " novel semimonthly " editor, section member of committee of Shanghai ban on opium-smoking and the opium trade, nanjing " help up annulus daily " editor, a member of an administrative section of room of Shanghai government confidential, guangdong saves governmental secretary. Came to held the post of Hong Kong 1949 1939 " national daily " manager, the sea is exterior in the center of Kuomintang total a secretary in charge of sth of ministerial room total a secretary in charge of sth, office of Central Secretariat secretary-general, jian of Ministry of finance holds the post of a secretary, brief hold the post of a secretary to hold Guangdong concurrently to save a bank director of industrial bank of censorial person, China, deputy director general of central bank secretariat holds administrative courtyard beautiful aid concurrently to use the head of a department or office of committee secretariat section chief, secretariat of the fiducial bureau central. ?
Academy of politics of university of China north revolution learns the preexistence after 1949, secretary of office of secretary of courtyard of successor government affairs, " new civilian newspaper " vise general manager, people art publishing house edits, chinese book assist standing director, thing of Chinese beautiful assistant manager, in the center of civilian change censorial appoint conference members of standing committee. 20 centuries after 80 time, committee member of association of artist of standing member of association of calligrapher of committee member of union of group of art of literature of whole nation of Cengren of yellow young plant, whole nation, whole nation waits. It is committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the 7th whole nation. After 1992, ceng Ren Australia is not in the case of Kun Shilan city this professor of college visiting professor, reputation. ?
Essayist of historian of famous caricaturist, art, art, calligrapher, writer. One's early years is read learn in Hong Kong China, 8 years old learn a book, master from Mr Deng Erya. The cartoon work that creates to place of the press contribute when Hong Kong. 20 centuries go to Shanghai at the beginning of 30 time, be in early or late " masses pictorial " , " novel " semimonthly becomes an editor, continue to be engaged in cartoon creative work. 30 time metaphase comes 40 time metaphase, activity of the culture that fight day enters in and other places of Shanghai, Chongqing. After liberating, hold the post of editor of people art publishing house. Association of calligrapher of director of Chinese artist association, China ever had been held the position of after 80 time committee member of couplet of article of standing director, whole nation, the 5th, 6, committee member of committee of whole nation of 7 the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conferences. Its calligraphy work ever was in Japan, England, Germany, Korea, Australia and our country Taiwan, Hong Kong and inland exhibit, collect for British museum. Composing has prosaic market " itinerant peddler collect " , " Jing Xizi paper " , " Zhang of running water of the hut that do not have a dream " , " green light trivial is written down " , " harships falls flower " etc, peotry anthology has " bovine oil market " , " 3 poems " etc, art work has " volume of Wu Daozi issue " , " person of 8 big hill is passed " , " the teacher and friend that draw altar is recorded " , " art circles one branch " etc, collect of painting and calligraphy has " calligraphy of yellow young plant is chosen " , " Chinese calligraphy high-quality goods is chosen -- yellow young plant " , " young plant miscellaneous book " etc.
Yellow young plant is essayist of historian of the old caricaturist of our country, art, art, famous calligrapher. Work of its painting and calligraphy ever was in country and the area such as Japan, Germany, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong to exhibit. ?
have art book: " art is admired " , " ancient art notes " , " volume of Wu Daozi issue " , " painter Xu Beihong " , " person of 8 big hill is passed " , " the teacher and friend that draw altar is recorded " , " art circles one branch " ; An album of paintings has " yellow young plant and Yu Feng " connubial picture collect; Does calligraphy have " is calligraphy of yellow young plant chosen " , " is Chinese calligraphy high-quality goods chosen? - - ? Yellow young plant " , " cursive magnolia word " wait; Essay collect " the wastepaper with characters written or printed on it that respect cherish " ; Prosaic collect " itinerant peddler collect " .