Set up in 1974 by art and design students in the 60s at the Extra-Mural Department of The University of Hong Kong, HKVAS has organised many exhibitions and art activities to promote visual arts in Hong Kong. It is also one of the most energetic local art groups with long history since the 20th century. Most of the members are renowned local visual artists while their artwork media range from Chinese and western painting, photography, sculpture, ceramics to installation art. Former chairmen of the Society include Gaylord Chan, Aser But, Chu Hing-wah, Eddie Lui, Lui Chun-kwong, Mok Yat-san, etc. and now the Society is under the chairmanship of Danny Lee.

To celebrate its 35th anniversary in 2008, the Society will demonstrate an innovative exhibition theme by grouping art works into three eras of the 70s, 80s and 90s, and inviting artists active in other decades to take part in the exhibition, to create a wide-ranging retrospective of the local art scene.