原名刘大田。淮北市刘窑村人。刘开渠是中国现代雕塑大师，杰出的艺术教育家。
1918年考入萧县高等小学时，老师为他改名为刘开渠。毕业后，1920年考入北平艺术专门学校。1923年，组织“心琴画会”，以反对守旧、提倡写生为宗旨，每半年举行一次画展。1924年升入专门部西洋画系时，见到云岗佛像的照片。非常激动，并对雕塑艺术产生了浓厚的兴趣。1927年，国立西湖艺术院征聘他为教授兼图书馆主任。同年8月，他在蔡元培的帮助下，考入巴黎高等美术学校雕塑系。导师是当时法国着名雕塑家让·朴舍教授，1931年他因学业优秀选入朴舍工作室当助手。1933年6月，回国任杭州艺术专科学校（浙江美术学院）雕塑系主任、教授，时年29岁。1949年任国立艺术专科学校校长。建国以后，刘开渠任上海市美协主席、杭州中央美术学院华东分院院长，兼任杭州市副市长，分管城市建设。1953年借调到北京，参加并领导人民英雄纪念碑的建造工作，任人民英雄纪念碑设计处处长、雕塑组组长。1959年调中央美术学院任副院长，主持第二期雕塑研究班。
1963年至1993年任中国美术馆馆长。并当选为第—、二、三届全国人大代表，第五、六、七届全国政协常委。还担任中国美术家协会一、二、三、四届副主席、全国城市雕塑规划组组长，全国城市雕塑建设指导委员会主任等职。曾被聘为中国大百科全书总编辑委员会委员。
刘开渠是我国现代雕塑事业的奠基人。他一贯主张雕塑艺术在“创造—种新境界”的同时，应该起到“明劝戒，着升沉”的作用。刘开渠精于西方写实雕塑技法，又注重继承中国古代雕塑的优秀传统。作品造型严谨朴实，手法细腻含蓄，人物神完气足，具有时代精神和民族风格。刘开渠对雕塑创作与教学也作过理论研究，其思想对中国雕塑的发展有着深远的影响。　作品融中西雕塑手法于一炉，手法写实，造型简练、准确、生动。
1934年，为纪念1932年“1·28”抗战所创作的《一、二八淞沪抗日阵亡将士纪念碑》，讴歌了爱国志士英雄杀敌的英雄气概，是我国第一座表现抗日题材的纪念碑。20世纪40年代，完成了一系列纪念像，有《王铭章骑马铜像》、《孙中山先生坐像》、《李家钰骑马铜像》等。1945年，他创作的大型浮雕《农工之家》，是我国现代雕期史上第一次表现农工题材的优秀作品。中华人民共和国成立后，1952年至1956年，他领导并参与了人民英雄纪念碑的设计以及大型浮雕的创作，并创作其中的《胜利渡过长江》、《解放全中国》、《支援前线》、《欢迎解放军》等浮雕。从1956年至1959年，他还受中共中央编译局委托，为马克思、恩格思、列宁、斯大林选集作封面浮雕像设计。50至60年代，先后创作了《毛主席像》、《工农红军像》，1976年以后，创作了《周恩来总理像》、《萧友梅纪念像》等。此外，在他所创作的众多作品中，有《抗日阵亡将士王铭章纪念碑》、《抗日阵亡将士无名英雄纪念碑》、《孙中山纪念碑》、《蔡元培纪念碑》等纪念性雕塑，还有表现任弼时等革命领袖和杜甫、刘禹锡、鲁迅、梅兰芳等文化名人的肖像。
先后编撰出版有《中国古代雕塑集》、《刘开渠雕塑选集》、《刘开渠美术论文集》、《刘开渠雕塑集》等。1993年6月25日病逝于北京。1993年10月28日，中国美术馆举办了《人民艺术家刘开渠遗作展》。
刘开渠曾任中国美术家协会副主席，当选为第1、2、3届全国人民代表大会代表、第5届全国政协委员、第7届全国政协常委。先后编撰出版有《中国古代雕塑集》、《刘开渠雕塑选集》、《刘开渠美术论文集》、《刘开渠雕塑集》。?刘开渠的雕塑在西洋写实雕塑的基础上，继承中国传统雕塑简练、单纯及线画的表现方法，形成了独特的风格。其作品写实，手法细腻、严谨，结构、解剖准确。
刘开渠是中国雕塑事业杰出的领导者和组织者，三十年代，他就呼吁建设富有生命力的纪念性雕塑，以激发国人的民族精神。他多次提出成立雕塑院和建设城市雕塑。他还主持指定了《在全国重点城市进行雕塑建设的建议》并由国家批准担任全国城雕规划组组长，城市雕塑建设委员会主任。为中国的城市雕塑事业的发展，作出了巨大的贡献。他先后当选为上海美协主席、中国文联委员、中国美协副主席。担任过杭州美院院长，杭州市副市长，中央美术学院副院长，中国美术馆馆长等职，受到美术界普遍的尊敬和爱戴，他不愧为当代杰出的人民艺术家、雕塑大师。
刘开渠的雕塑具有明显的绘画性和意象性，语言精练，这是他的作品衍生的另一艺术特点。这些特点，都不是孤立的，它们互相关连。刘开渠的雕塑有着它存在与发展的理由和价值。他的艺术品包括中国雕塑之所以能一枝独秀地屹立在世界艺术之林，全在于它有着与众不同的许多特点。这些特点是世界所承认和尊重的。当许多中国人奔赴西方学习雕塑时，西方雕塑家也来中国借鉴中国古代雕塑。但大雕塑家刘开渠确自己开始个人风格的雕塑创作，为中国雕塑史的发展做出了伟大贡献。
主要作品有：《王铭章骑马铜像》(1943)、《川军抗日英雄纪念像》、《孙中山先生坐像》(1944)、《李家钰骑马铜像》(1945)和表现工人、农民生活的《工农之家》巨型浮雕等作品。1953～1958年亲自创作完成主体浮雕人民英雄纪念碑浮雕之一《胜利渡长江，解放全中国》，以及《支援前线》和《欢迎解放军》。
50～60年代，他先后完成了《毛泽东主席像》、《工农红军像》，及《马克思恩格斯选集》、《列宁全集》、《斯大林选集》等书封面的马克思、恩格斯、列宁、斯大林的浮雕像等。
1976年以后，他又创作了《周恩来总理像》、《萧友梅纪念像》、《蔡元培纪念像》和《妇女胸像》等。

Land for growing field crops of original name Liu. Person of village of kiln of Liu of city of north of the Huaihe River. Liu Kaiqu is Great Master of Chinese contemporary sculpture, crackajack artistic educationist.
Took an examination of desolate county 1918 when advanced elementary school, the teacher is him incognito for Liu Kaiqu. After graduation, took an examination of north to make the same score artistic and special school 1920. 1923, organization " picture of heart musical instrument is met " , in order to object conservative, advocate paint from life to be a tenet, every half an year holds art exhibition. When rising special department West to draw a department 1924, see the picture of cloud hillock figure of Buddha. Very excited, generated strong interest to sculptural. 1927, invite applications for jobs of courtyard of art of national west lake he holds library director concurrently for the professor. Of the same age in August, he falls in Cai Yuanpei's help, take an examination of Paris sculpture of advanced art school is. The adviser is at that time France is worn Piao She letting · teachs a sculptor, 1931 he because school work is outstanding choose Piao She atelier when assistant. June 1933, go back to the motherland a Hangzhou art training school (Zhejiang academy of fine arts) sculpture department head, professor, when. ? Held the post of chancellor of national and artistic schools 1949. After founding a state, liu Kaiqu holds the post of Shanghai beauty assist in the center of chairman, Hangzhou dean of branch department of Hua Dong of academy of fine arts, hold Hangzhou city deputy mayor part-time, city of be assigned personal responsibility for is built. Temporarily transfer went to Beijing 1953, attend and lead people hero to create the job monumentally, hold the post of people hero monument to design group leader of group of department section chief, sculpture. The academy of fine arts held the post of assistant dean in the center of tone 1959, chair the 2nd period sculpture research class.
 Came to held the post of curator of Chinese art gallery 1993 1963. Be elected for, , 2, delegate of National People's Congress of 3 whole nations, the 5th, 6, members of standing committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of 7 whole nations. Still hold the position of Chinese artist association one, 2, 3, group leader of group of program of sculpture of city of 4 vice-chairmans, whole nation, countrywide city sculpture builds the duty such as directive committee chairman. Ever was hired to be committee member of committee of editor in chief of Chinese big encyclopedia.
 Liu Kaiqu is the founder of career of our country contemporary sculpture. He always advocates sculptural is in " creation, kind new state " while, should rise " bright dissuasive, move rise heavy " action. Liu Kaiqu essence at the west realistically sculpture ability law, pay attention to the outstanding tradition of sculpture of successive China ancient time again. Work model is compact guileless, gimmick is exquisite and implicative, character expression is over energy of life is full, have times spirit and ethical color. Liu Kaiqu also has made academic research to sculpture creation and education, its thought is having far-reaching effect to the development of Chinese sculpture.
 Gimmick of sculpture of Chinese and Western of work be in harmony at one furnace, gimmick realistically, modelling is succinct, accurate, vivid.
1934, for souvenir 1932 " 1 · 28 " place of war of resistance against aggression creates " one, 28 Song Shanghai fights day of be killed in battle officers and soldiers is monumental " , eulogize the heroic lofty quality of fight the enemy of hero of patriotic person of ideals and integrity, it is the monument that our country behaves the subject matter that fight day the first times. 20 centuries 40 time, finished a series of souvenir to resemble, have " king inscription chapter rides equestrian bronze " , " Mr Sun Zhongshan sits picture " , " Li Jiayu is equestrian bronze " etc. 1945, the large relief sculpture that he creates " the home of farming labour " , it is our country contemporary carve period history the outstanding work that attends to behave farming labour subject matter for the first time. After People's Republic of China holds water, came 1952 1956, he is led and shared the creative work of the design of people hero monument and large relief sculpture, create among them " the victory overshoots the Yangtse River " , " liberate complete China " , " assist front " , " greeting liberation army " wait for anaglyph. Come from 1956 1959, he still suffers the Central Committee of Communist Party of China to compile bureau entrust, for Marx, Engesai, Lenin, Sidalin anthology makes cover anaglyph resemble designing. 50 to 60 time, created early or late " Chairman Mao resembles " , " Red Army of workers and peasants resembles " , after 1976, created " Zhou En comes the premier resembles " , " Xiao Youmei souvenir resembles " etc. In addition, in the numerous work that creates in him, have " chapter of inscription of king of officers and soldiers of the be killed in battle that fight day is monumental " , " officers and soldiers of the be killed in battle that fight day is anonymous the hero is monumental " , " Sun Zhongshan is monumental " , " Cai Yuanpei is monumental " wait for commemorative sex sculpture, yu Xi of revolutionary cacique and Du Fu, Liu, Lu Xun, Mei Lanfang waits to wait for the effigies of culture celebrity when still expression allows to assist.
 Make up early or late write publish have " collect of sculpture of Chinese ancient time " , " anthology of Liu Kaiqu sculpture " , " market of paper of Liu Kaiqu art " , " collect of Liu Kaiqu sculpture " etc. Died of illness on June 25, 1993 at Beijing. On October 28, 1993, chinese art gallery was held " posthumous work of people artist Liu Kaiqu is exhibited " .
Liu Kaiqu ever held the post of vice-chairman of Chinese artist association, be elected for the 1st, 2, members of standing committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the 7th committee member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference of the 5th delegate of 3 National People's Congresses, whole nation, whole nation. Make up early or late write publish have " collect of sculpture of Chinese ancient time " , " anthology of Liu Kaiqu sculpture " , " market of paper of Liu Kaiqu art " , " collect of Liu Kaiqu sculpture " . ? Liu Kaiqu's sculpture is in West realistically on the foundation of sculpture, successive China traditional sculpture is succinct, pure the expressional method of the picture that reach a line, formed distinctive color. Its work realistically, gimmick is exquisite, rigorous, structure, anatomize accurate.
? Liu Kaiqu is the leader with Chinese sculpture prominent career and organizer, 30 time, he commemorates sexual sculpture with respect to what appeal construction is full of vitality, in order to arouse the ethos of compatriots. He puts forward to establish sculpture courtyard and construction city sculpture for many times. He still is chaired appointed " the proposal that undertakes in countrywide key city sculpture is built " hold the position of group leader of group of program of countrywide city carve by national approval, urban sculpture builds committee chairman. For the development of urban sculpture career of China, made enormous contribution. He is elected early or late for Shanghai beauty assist committee member of couplet of article of chairman, China, China is beautiful assist vice-chairman. Had held the position of dean of Hangzhou beautiful courtyard, hangzhou city deputy mayor, assistant dean of central academy of fine arts, the duty such as curator of Chinese art gallery, get the respect with art general group and love and esteem, he is worthy of be Great Master of contemporary and crackajack people artist, sculpture.

Liu Kaiqu's sculpture has apparent painterly sex and image sex, the language is chastening, this is the another artistic characteristic that his work derives. This
Some characteristic, not be isolated, connect related their each other. Liu Kaiqu's sculpture is having it to be put in the reason with development and value. His artwork includes Chinese sculpture can one branch alone beautiful ground stand erect is in the world artistic forest, depend on it having a lot of characteristics of extraordinary completely. These characteristics are world place admits to mix valued. When a lot of Chinese hurry off to western study sculpture, western sculptor also comes to China draw lessons from sculpture of Chinese ancient time. But big sculptor Liu Kaiqu truly the sculpture creative work that oneself begin individual style, for China the development of sculpture history made great contribution.

Main work has: " king inscription chapter rides equestrian bronze " (1943) , " plain army souvenir of the hero that fight day resembles " , " Mr Sun Zhongshan sits picture " (1944) , " Li Jiayu is equestrian bronze " (1945) and expressional worker, farmer.1953 ～ created one of relief sculpture of monument of hero of people of anaglyph of the main body that finish personally 1958 " the victory crosses the Yangtse River, liberate complete China " , and " assist front " and " greeting liberation army " .
 60 time of 50 ～ , he was finished early or late " Chairman Mao Zedong resembles " , " Red Army of workers and peasants resembles " , reach " Marx Engels anthology " , " Lenin complete works " , " Si Dalin anthology " the anaglyph of the Marx of cover waiting for a book, Engels, Lenin, Sidalin resembles waiting.
 After 1976, he was created again " Zhou En comes the premier resembles " , " Xiao Youmei souvenir resembles " , " Cai Yuanpei souvenir resembles " and " woman bust " etc.