Ai Weiwei is amongst the most influential and politically active living artists. He is known for challenging China’s government, advocating for freedom of speech and human rights. Merging conceptual rigor, political critique, and traditional Chinese craft, he challenges systems of authority, cultural amnesia, and injustice. He is internationally recognized for his activism, especially after the 2008 Sichuan earthquake. His art has become a powerful form of political protest and resistance, making him a symbol of free expression in authoritarian regimes. Despite his activism, Ai’s legacy is still evident in Beijing, where he co-designed the Olympic “Bird’s Nest” stadium still visible to this day. He was featured in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People and received the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award.

His work is in the permanent collections of MoMA, LACMA, Tate, The Met, Guggenheim, Centre Pompidou, LACMA, and many others. He was featured multiple times in the Venice Biennale.

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