Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is a Chinese contemporary artist and activist. He was born in Beijing, China, in 1957. He uses art to speak out about human rights and freedom. He is one of the most famous artists in the world today.

Early Life

Ai Weiwei's father was a famous Chinese poet who was sent to a labor camp. Growing up, Ai Weiwei saw how the government could silence people. He moved to New York City in 1981, where he studied art. He returned to China in 1993 and began creating bold artwork.

Art and Activism

Ai Weiwei creates art that makes people think about freedom and justice. He helped design the Bird's Nest stadium for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Chinese government arrested him for 81 days in 2011 for criticizing them. He now lives outside of China and continues to create powerful art.

Fun Facts

• Ai Weiwei helped design the famous Bird's Nest stadium in Beijing.
• He has millions of followers on social media, where he shares his art and opinions.
• He once created an art installation using 9,000 children's backpacks.

Did You Know?

Ai Weiwei created an artwork on the side of a building using 9,000 children's backpacks. It spelled out a sentence in Chinese about a student who died in a poorly built school during an earthquake.