Ai Weiwei Art
Chinese, b. 1957
Ai Weiwei was born in northwest China but was sent to a labor camp in Beidahuang, Heilongjiang, when he was only a year old. There he was raised for the early years of his life. His father Aì Qīng’s involvement in the Anti-Rightist Movement led to the family's exile shortly afterward to Shihezi, Xinjiang, where Ai spent the duration of his childhood. Upon Mao Zedong’s death, the family returned to Beijing in 1976.
Following the family’s return home, Ai enrolled in the Beijing Film Academy to study animation in 1978. He was one of the founders of the avant-garde art group the Stars alongside contemporaries Ma Desheng, Wang Keping, Mao Lizi, Huang Rui, Li Shuang, Ah Cheng and Qu Leilei. The Stars disbanded in the 1980s, but Ai participated in regular shows that recalled the ten years that the group had been together, including at the Hanart Gallery in 1989 and the retrospective 2007 exhibition at Beijing's Origin Point.
Ai moved to the USA in 1981, among the earliest of students to study abroad following China’s reform in 1980, which afforded him the opportunity to take the TOEFL in 1981. He lived in Philadelphia and then in San Francisco, studying English at the University of California, Berkeley. Afteward, Ai studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City and attended the Art Students League of New York from 1983 to 1986. He initially made a living by drawing street portraits.
Immersing himself in the Pop art scene, which was rapidly gaining popularity, Ai began creating conceptual art and photography. Ai returned to China after his father became ill in 1993, and while there he helped to establish the experimental art scene called Beijing East Village. In 1999, Ai built a studio house in Beijing — his first architectural project. Ai founded the architecture studio FAKE Design in 2003, and co-curated the art exhibition "Fuck Off" with Feng Boyi in Shanghai.
In 2011, Ai was arrested and jailed. Released after 81 days, the government confiscated his passport. His release was in part due to the uproar of the art world against his charges of tax evasion; the Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation and the International Council of Museums both organized petitions, collecting almost 100,000 signatures calling for his release. When he reclaimed his passport in 2015, Ai moved to Berlin and lived in a studio. It became a base for him to create his international work.
Ai is the artistic director of China Art Archives & Warehouse. The experimental gallery and archive, co-founded by Ai in 1997, concentrates on experimental art from the People’s Republic of China, initiating and facilitating exhibitions both in China and internationally.
Ai's work is in the collections of museums worldwide, including the Tate, London; Arken, London; Brooklyn Museum, New York; and the RA, London. His international architectural collaborations, including the Beijing National Stadium and the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion, have consistently been met with critical acclaim.
Find a variety of authentic Ai Weiwei prints, paintings and other art today on 1stDibs.
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Artist: Ai Weiwei
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei, China
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet), 2018-2019
Murano ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Glass
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei, China
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet), 2018-2019
Murano ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Glass
CEDAR (SMALL) Chinese Contemporary Modern Activism Tree Tradition Ink
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Ai Weiwei
CEDAR (SMALL)
Date of creation: 2022
Medium: Screenprint on Somerset Velvet Antique paper
Edition number: 9/150
Size: 47.5 x 38 cm
Condition: In mint conditions, brand new...
Category
2010s Conceptual Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Paper, Screen
CEDAR (LARGE) Chinese Contemporary Modern Activism Tree Tradition Ink White
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Madrid, Madrid
Ai Weiwei
CEDAR (LARGE)
Date of creation: 2022
Medium: Screenprint on Somerset Velvet Antique paper
Edition: 50
Size: 70.5 x 55.5 cm
Condition: In mint conditions, brand new and nev...
Category
2010s Conceptual Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Paper, Screen
Ai Weiwei, Cats (Red) - Signed Print, Contemporary Art, Chinese Activist
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957)
Cats (Black), 2022
Medium: Screenprint on paper
Dimensions: 28 x 32.8 cm
Edition of 150: Hand signed, numbered and dated
Printer: Kip Gresham at The Prin...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Screen
Ai Weiwei, Pequi Tree - Limited Edition Sculpture, Chinese Contemporary Art
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
The Pequi Tree Miniature is based on Ai Weiwei's 32 meter sculpture, Pequi Tree from 2018-2020, and was produced at a 1/100 scale. As the large cast iron...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Metal
Cats (Pink)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei
Cats (Pink), 2022
Screen print on white Somerset Velvet, 300gsm
17 7/10 × 24 2/5 inches
Signed in pencil by Ai Weiwei, Numbered from the limited edition of 300 and dated 2022 on the front
Unframed
This artwork, created by Ai Weiwei with his son Ai Lao, depicts their two cats Maple and Birch and was originally created for The Liberty of Doubt exhibition at Kettle's Yard.
“I like cats very much because of their independent character, alertness and understanding of human beings; I have feelings approximating to reverence for them. Cats have been regarded as psychic animals since ancient times, no matter in China or Ancient Greece. What’s even more interesting is that if a selfie of mine would be seen by 100 people, a cat photo...
Category
2010s Pop Art Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Screen
Ai Weiwei, History of Bombs, Limited Edition Print, Chinese Contemporary Art
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Hamburg, DE
Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957)
History of Bombs, 2020
Medium: Digital print on 170gsm arco paper
Dimensions: 19.68 x 27.56 in (50 x 70 cm)
Edition of 1000: Printed signature on accompa...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Digital
The Papercut Portfolio -Contemporary, 21st Century, Paper, Ai Weiwei, Red, China
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
The Papercut Portfolio - Contemporary, 21st Century, Paper, Ai Weiwei, Red
Papercuts in clothbound clamshell box (set of 8)
Edition of 250 (all 8 pieces come in the same edition num...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Paper
Furniture (from Papercut Portfolio)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Ai Weiwei
Title: Furniture (from Papercut Portfolio)
Year: 2019
Medium: Papercut on large format, colored fine art paper
Edition: 250; si...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Lithograph
River Crabs (from Papercut Portfolio)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Calabasas, CA
Artist: Ai Weiwei
Title: River Crabs (from Papercut Portfolio)
Year: 2019
Medium: Papercut on large format, colored fine art paper
Edition: 250; ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Lithograph
Crabs
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei
Crabs, 2010-11
Limited Edition, hand numbered Silkscreen on 100% Canadian 2-Ply Maplewood Skateboard. Signed on the deck
31 × 1 × 3/10 inches
Edition 126/150
Signed on the ...
Category
2010s Conceptual Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Wood, Screen
F?!k (There are No Outdoor Sports as Graceful as Throwing Stones at a Dictators)
By Ai Weiwei
Located in New York, NY
Ai Weiwei
F*?!k (There are No Outdoor Sports as Graceful as Throwing Stones at a Dictatorship in the World), 2010
Limited Edition Silkscreen on 7 Ply Grade A Canadian Maplewood
31 × ...
Category
2010s Conceptual Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Wood, Screen
Push Up Wood Figure
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
This push up wooden figure features Ai Weiwei standing on top of a Han Dynasty urn printed with one of his trademark "ism's." It is inspired by his artwo...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Wood
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet) -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei, China
Study of Perspective in Glass (Violet), 2018-2019
Murano ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Glass
The Papercut Portfolio
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Bristol, GB
Portfolio of eight papercuts in clothbound clamshell box
Edition of 250
Each papercut is signed by the artist; numbered on portfolio postscript
Six of eight artworks are in mint cond...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Paper
BOMB
By Ai Weiwei
Located in 'S-GRAVENHAGE, ZH
Medium: Fine art inkjet print, Hahnemüle German etching 310g
Size: 37 2/5 x 51 1/5 in. (95 x 130 cm)
Edition of 100 + 25 AP
Hand signed by the artist and numbered on the front
Category
2010s Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Inkjet
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Digital
Red Ai Weiwei Hand-Painted Limited Edition Hardback Catalogue
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Bristol, GB
2015 exhibition catalogue with hand-painted dust jacket - industrial paint on 170 gsm Munken Polar paper
Edition of 108
11.8 x 39.3 in
Signed and numbered on the COA. Signed on the d...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Paint
Pequi Tree
By Ai Weiwei
Located in 'S-GRAVENHAGE, ZH
Medium: Tin Sculpture in custom box.
Size: 32 × 8 cm
Edition of 250
Engraved signature and numbered + COA
Category
2010s Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Metal
UFO
By Ai Weiwei
Located in 'S-GRAVENHAGE, ZH
“As an artist, I have to relate to humanity’s struggles ... I never separate these situations from my art,”
- Ai Weiwei
At first glance the intentionally enlarged image shows us, wh...
Category
2010s Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Inkjet
Odyssey
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
"Odyssey", is a limited edition print by Chinese activist and artist Ai Weiwei. It depicts the global refugee condition in the style of a classic Greco-Roman frieze.
Edition of 1000...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Lithograph
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
BOMB
By Ai Weiwei
Located in London, GB
Fine art inkjet print, Hahnemüle German etching 310g
37 2/5 x 51 1/5 in. (95 x 130 cm)
Limited edition of 100 + 25 AP
Hand signed by the artist and numbered on the front
Category
2010s Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Materials
Screen
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Untitled
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Washington , DC, DC
The present work is from the artist’s “Becoming” series, which consists of 147 photographs documenting the transformation of a green field into Beijing’s new national airport, the la...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Ai Weiwei Art
Ai Weiwei art for sale on 1stDibs
1stDibs offers a wide variety of authentic Ai Weiwei art for sale. If you are looking for art to add a pop of color to a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of red, pink and other colors. You can also search for art by Ai Weiwei in paper, archival paper, paint and more by medium. Much of this artist's original work was created during the 21st Century and Contemporary, and is mostly associated with the Contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Ai Weiwei art, so small editions measuring 4.340000152587891 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Wang Guangyi, Peter Doig and Yue Minjun. The price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $80,000, while the average work can sell for $5,406.
Artists Similar to Ai Weiwei
Questions About Ai Weiwei Art
- Does Ai Weiwei paint?1 Answer1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022Yes, Ai Weiwei does paint. While Ai Weiwei is known more for his poetry, sculpture and photography, he did occasionally paint and use paint in his sculptural work. Ai Weiwei is known for his activism and his artwork often encapsulated his political leanings. Shop a selection Ai Weiwei works on 1stDibs.
- 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022What Ai Weiwei's art represents depends on the piece. Some of the Chinese artist's works seem to symbolize how the Chinese Community party stripped away individuality and demanded conformity. Many of his pieces communicate messages about various human rights violations. Shop a range of Ai Weiwei art on 1stDibs.