Ai Weiwei to Recreate His Detention in 24-Hour Performance at Aviva Studios
23 March 2026 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei will recreate his 2011 detention in a 24-hour performance at Aviva Studios this July,
Tag: Ai Weiwei
Ai Weiwei, a global artist, researcher, and thinker, explores diverse subjects, from the 2008 Chinese earthquake to refugee crises. His art combines craftsmanship and conceptual creativity, addressing economic, political, and social forces. Through installations, sculptures, films, and photographs, he highlights universal symbols and societal issues. Ai Weiwei is an influential cultural figure and advocate for free expression worldwide.
Born in Beijing in 1957, Ai Weiwei now resides in Portugal. His major solo exhibitions span across the globe, from Vienna to London. He has collaborated on architectural projects like the 2012 Serpentine Pavilion and the Beijing Olympic Stadium in 2008.
His numerous awards include the Chinese Contemporary Art Awards’ lifetime achievement award in 2008 and the Václav Havel Prize for Creative Dissent in 2012. He was named Honorary Academician at the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 2011.
Ai Weiwei’s work resonates globally, transcending cultural and political boundaries. As a leading cultural figure, he continues to inspire through his thought-provoking art and unwavering commitment to human rights.
RugLife Exhibition Reimagines the Rug as Contemporary Art at Pratt Manhattan Gallery
13 March 2026 • Mark Westall
RugLife, a travelling exhibition exploring how contemporary artists are transforming the traditional rug into a powerful artistic medium, is currently… Read More
War, Trade and Truth: Ai Weiwei’s Button-Powered Reckoning
26 February 2026 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei takes over Manchester’s Aviva Studios with his largest site-specific exhibition to date
Ai Weiwei Turns Rubelli’s Silk Into an Immersive Act of Resistance
25 February 2026 • Mark Westall
Venetian textile house Rubelli transforms silk into a charged political medium in collaboration with artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
Ai Weiwei & Avant Arte launch time-limited edition of iconic vase sculpture.
14 August 2025 • Mark Westall
Avant Arte has announced a highly anticipated new sculpture edition with artist Ai Weiwei, blending ancient craft and modern-day iconography.
Artworks by Ai Weiwei, Andrew Sabin + Jane and Louise Wilson feature in Sculpture in the City.
16 July 2025 • Mark Westall
Artworks by Ai Weiwei, Andrew Sabin and Jane and Louise Wilson have been unveiled in the City of London as part of the 14th edition of Sculpture in the City
Ai Weiwei to Unveil New ‘War and Peace’ Themed Installation in Response to Ukraine Conflict
25 June 2025 • Mark Westall
This September, renowned artist and activist Ai Weiwei will unveil a powerful new site-specific installation in Kyiv
14th edition of Sculpture in the City to feature artworks by Ai Weiwei, Andrew Sabin & Jane & Louise Wilson.
23 June 2025 • Mark Westall
Artworks by Ai Weiwei, Andrew Sabin, and Jane and Louise Wilson to be unveiled in London as part of the 14th edition of Sculpture in the City
Monumental Art Installation by Ai Weiwei Inaugurates New Public Art Commissioning Program at FDR Four Freedoms State Park
24 April 2025 • Mark Westall
The inaugural Art X Freedom commission will be a monumental new public art installation by artist and activist Ai Weiwei.
Ai Weiwei talk next up from Factory International’s Artists in Times of Upheaval series.
21 February 2025 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei will join Factory International Creative Director Kee Hong Low to discuss his role as a global citizen, artist & thinker in a special talk
Threads of Time: Ai Weiwei’s Provocative Dialogue Between History and Contemporary Culture**
11 December 2024 • Mark Westall
“An individual life can be seen as a coloured brick, but also as intuitive expression of, not only a two-dimensional… Read More
Ai Weiwei gets first US retrospective in over a decade and his largest-ever exhibition in the US.
22 May 2024 • Mark Westall
The Seattle Art Museum (SAM) has announced that it will present a major retrospective in 2025 for Ai Weiwei, one… Read More
See Ai Weiwei’s new print at The Steam Room in Haggerston.
6 February 2024 • Mark Westall
Avant Arte’s latest collaboration is with Ai Weiwei – Guardian, a new time-limited print edition will be available for just… Read More
Ai Weiwei collaborates with TASCHEN on fine art jewelry collection.
15 November 2023 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei and TASCHEN present an unprecedented fine art jewelry collaboration following the success of the artist’s Papercut Portfolio.
Lisson Gallery postpones Ai Weiwei’s London show due to his tweet on the Israel-Hamas war.
14 November 2023 • Mark Westall
The Art Newspaper reports that ‘Lisson Gallery has indefinitely put on hold an exhibition of new works by the Chinese… Read More
Flowers Gallery & War Child UK announce Lost Girls exhibition – Featuring Ai Weiwei, Maggi Hambling, Caroline Coon and more
26 September 2023 • Mark Westall
Stellar line-up of artists including Ai Weiwei, Maggi Hambling, Caroline Coon, Tracey Moffatt, Penelope Slinger, Owanto, Tewodros Hagos, Pam Hogg,… Read More
“Exploring the Artistic Fascination with Skulls: FAD Magazine’s Top 10 Works of Art that feature skulls’
7 August 2023 • Mark Westall
FAD Magazine delves into Art History to curate the finest collection of skull-themed artworks, spotlighting the captivating world of Skull… Read More
The Top 6 Art Exhibitions to see in London in late July
22 July 2023 • Tabish Khan
LEGO, sins, saints, London and a giant rock.
Ai Weiwei among five world-renowned artists announced for Lumiere 2023, the UK’s light art biennial.
20 July 2023 • Mark Westall
The UK premiere of an artwork by Ai Weiwei incorporating 61 chandeliers to exhibit in Durham Cathedral as part of this year’s light art biennial.
Ai Weiwei’s Fly lands in the Eden Project’s Rainforest Biome
15 May 2023 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei’s Fly (2019) sculpture has landed in the Rainforest Biome at the Eden Project until further notice.
Ai Weiwei opens Making Sense at the Design Museum London.
5 April 2023 • Mark Westall
Ai Weiwei, one of the world’s most celebrated and recognisable living artists, has unveiled a major new exhibition at the Design Museum
Middle Finger, Ai Weiwei’s new interactive online work hits 10,000 submissions in first week
22 March 2023 • Mark Westall
Middle Finger, Ai Weiwei’s new interactive online artwork which invites people around the world to offer their own perspective on power, has surpassed 10,000 global submissions in its first week.
Ai Weiwei’s largest-ever Lego artwork unveiled at the Design Museum
20 March 2023 • Mark Westall
In advance of his first-ever design-focused exhibition — opening next month — the Design Museum today unveils a major new work by celebrated global artist Ai Weiwei.
Ai Weiwei makes his Middle Finger available to all in new interactive online artwork
16 March 2023 • Mark Westall
Avant Arte has announced a new collaboration with celebrated contemporary artist Ai Weiwei to make his work available to all. This exciting new collaboration is launched to mark Ai Weiwei’s first ever design-focussed exhibition which opens at the Design Museum next month.
