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.
Everything is Art, Everything is Politics By Ai Weiwei
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Everything is Art, Everything is Politics By Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei is a prominent Chinese contemporary artist and activist known for his bold and provocative works that challenge po...
Wood
Ai Weiwei - Humanity - Artist’s Book - Signed & Numbered Limited Edition Of 200
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Draper, UT
This limited edition of Ai Weiwei’s book was realized by the publishing house Damocle Edizioni – Venice in 200 numbered copies. The book is hand bound with thermal blankets like thos...
Gold Leaf
$42,652
The Papercut Portfolio -Contemporary, 21st Century, Paper, Ai Weiwei, Red, China
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
In this portfolio, Ai Weiwei reflects on his life and work through the Chinese art of papercutting, creating a beautiful personal retrospective in a unique format. The Papercut Port...
Paper
Watchmen
By Tony Dagradi
Located in New Orleans, LA
[New Orleans, LA ::: b. 1952 - Queens, NY] BIO : TONY DAGRADI is an internationally recognized jazz performer, artist, composer, author and educator. For over three decades he has...
Paper, Varnish
$1,600
H 54 in W 12 in D 0.25 in
"Hieroglyphics (MS Paint Toolbar)", Nostalgic 90s Wall-Hanging Fiber Art
By Nicole Nikolich, Lace in the Moon
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Hieroglyphics (MS Paint Toolbar)" is a one-of-a-kind original piece by Nicole Nikolich (Lace in the Moon) and is made from crocheted acrylic hanging from a wooden ...
Textile, Yarn, Found Objects, Wood
$4,500
H 31 in W 8 in
Geisha Skateboard Triptych suite of three silkscreen skateboards numbered 55/150
By Nobuyoshi Araki
Located in New York, NY
The Skateroom x Nobuyoshi Araki Geisha Skateboard Triptych, ca. 2014 Set of (3) Skateboards of Silkscreen on 7 ply Canadian Maplewood Deck Signed in plate, Each signed on the deck an...
Maple, Screen
$160
H 6 in W 6 in
"Potluck" paper collage, hand-embroidery, geometric pattern, thread, french knot
By Kelly Kozma
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This piece titled "Potluck" is an original artwork made from collage, hand embroidery, and latex paint on canvas by Kelly Kozma. This piece is shipped in the pictured white frame and measures 6"h x 6"w framed. The catalyst for this new body of work was a jar of leftover magazine cutouts from a collage I made in 2010. Reusing leftover materials as well repurposing items that might end up thrown away, has become a very important part of my process the past decade. Stumbling across this jar of coin sized images that had waited patiently on a shelf for 12 years, ignited my creative process and drove me to explore collage in a new way. Unlike the piece from 2010 in which I assembled the images by piecing them together, I decided to examine each individual cut out on its on. By removing the image from any other context it allows you to focus solely on its meaning, purpose or feelings that it may evoke. Each image is embedded in a field of French knots which felt like a way of creating a time capsule of sorts for the object. Another inspiration behind this collection is my six year old son and his endless piles of sticks, stones, leaves, etc in our home. Only to him they aren’t sticks and stones, they are treasures. His ability to find a tiny twig or scrap of paper and not only cherish it but give it a backstory of why it is so special, is a beautiful thing and one I have tried to tap into with my new work. By placing a picture of a rubberband ball or a set of Dracula teeth or a banana in this embroidered box...
Thread, Paper
$2,500
H 31 in W 8 in
Barbara Kruger - Don't Be a Jerk skateboard, wood skate deck, Lt. Ed of 100
By Barbara Kruger
Located in New York, NY
Performa x Barbara Kruger Don't Be a Jerk skateboard, 2017 Screenprint on skate deck Unsigned Edition of 100, unnumbered 31 × 8 inches From the Barbara Kruger "The Drop" show at Per...
Wood, Screen
$309
H 19 in W 16 in D 1 in
Lady, Wash on Paper, Green, Blue by Indian Contemporary Artist "In Stock"
By Mintu Naiya
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Mintu Naiya - Lady - 11 x 8 inches ( unframed size ) Wash on Paper ** Shipped in roll form. About the Artist & his Art work : Born : November, 1976. Education : Graduate from Calc...
Paper, Washi Paper
$275
H 14 in W 12 in
Cheetah Wood Collage, Contemporary Mixed Media, 21st Century, Unframed
By Matt R Phillips
Located in Philadelphia, PA
"Cheetah" is an original hand-cut wood collage by Matt R. Phillips. The piece ships in the pictured, artist-made, wood floater frame and measures 14"h x 12"w. Matt R. Phillips is a...
Wood, Mixed Media
$515
H 24 in W 17 in D 1 in
Indian King, Wash on Paper, Blue, Green by Indian Contemporary Artist "In Stock"
By Mintu Naiya
Located in Kolkata, West Bengal
Mintu Naiya - King - 16 x 9 inches ( unframed size ) Wash on Paper ** Shipped in roll form. About the Artist & his Art work : Born : November, 1976. Education : Graduate from Calc...
Paper, Washi Paper
$3,500
H 32 in W 8 in D 0.3 in
Kehinde Wiley - Christian Martyr Tarcisius Limited Edition skate deck skateboard
By Kehinde Wiley
Located in New York, NY
Kehinde Wiley Christian Martyr Tarcisius (El Hadjii Malick Gueye), Limited Edition skate deck, 2022 Color silkscreen on limited edition maple wood Skateboard Skate Deck Signed in pla...
Maple, Screen
Giardino di Rose
By Justas Varpucanskis
Located in Mokena, IL
Giardino di Rose, 2022 Ink on Toned Paper with Frame, 12.25 x 15.25 inches Transporting the viewer to Florence’s sun-lit rose garden, Justas Varpucanskis...
Ink, Handmade Paper
The Busty Dog
By Marc Zimmerman
Located in Carmel, CA
This masterpiece is exhibited in the Zimmerman Gallery, Carmel CA. Dive into the whimsical realm of mystique with this utterly enchanting totem. Crafted with meticulous detail, this...
Clay, Wood, Glaze
Meditate Tea Cups, 3"x3" Luster and Gold on Porcelain
By Carolyn Barlock
Located in Loveland, CO
"Meditate" by Carolyn Barlock One-of-a-kind Luster and Gold on Porcelain 3x3" each, demitasse teacups with pansy floral design hand-carved, gilt and glazed signed and numbered on th...
Gold, Gold Leaf
Everything is Art, Everything is Politics By Ai Weiwei
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Dubai, Dubai
Everything is Art, Everything is Politics By Ai Weiwei Ai Weiwei is a prominent Chinese contemporary artist and activist known for his bold and provocative works that challenge po...
Wood
Sold
H 5.91 in W 3.94 in D 3.55 in
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 Gla...
Glass
Sold
H 74.81 in W 39.38 in
Wo ist die Revolution -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei, China
By Ai Weiwei
Located in Zug, CH
Wo ist die Revolution -Contemporary, 21st Century, Ai Weiwei, China Wo ist die Revolution, 2019 Inkjet Print Edition of 180 190 x 100 cm (74.8 x 39.3 in.) Signed and numbered In mint condition, as acquired from the publisher in the original packaging PLEASE NOTE: Edition numbers could vary from the one shown in the images. The pictures are only for illustrative reasons, the work is offered unframed. “If you look at art history you see that only important art moments...
Inkjet
Ai Weiwei Record Cover Art
By Ai Weiwei
Located in NEW YORK, NY
Live in Shenzen, Shanghai & Taipei, 2005 featuring original Ai Weiwei Record Cover Art Offset print on double-sided vinyl record jacket 12 x 12 inch...
Offset