âEverything is art. Everything is politics.â Globally renowned artist Ai Weiwei (Chinese, b. 1957) is celebrated as a disruptor of artistic canons and a champion of free expression. In his workâranging across performance, photography, sculpture, video, and installationâhe deploys humor and provocation, calling upon his viewers to examine history, society, and culture. Organized by SAM, Ai, Rebel: The Art and Activism of Ai Weiwei highlights the artistic strategies of his 40-year career for questioning forms of power. It marks the artistâs first US retrospective in over a decade and his largest-ever US exhibition.
Ai, Rebel explores over 130 works created over four decades, from the 1980s to the 2020s, offering visitors a rare opportunity to engage with the conceptual artistâs wide-ranging body of work. Iconic works from his career are on view, including Dropping a Han Dynasty Urn (1995), Study of Perspective (1995â2011), Sunflower Seeds (2010), Neolithic Vase with Coca Cola Logo (Gold) (2015), and Illumination (2019). The exhibition also features several works making their international debut.
For the first time in its 90-year history, SAM is presenting the work of one artist at all three of its locations at the same time. In addition to the major retrospective at the downtown location, the Seattle Asian Art Museum presents Ai Weiwei: Water Lilies (March 19, 2025âMarch 15, 2026), a reinterpretation in LEGOs of one of Claude Monetâs famed water lilies paintings. The Olympic Sculpture Park presents Ai Weiwei: Circle of Animals/Zodiac Heads (Bronze) (May 17, 2025âMay 17, 2027), a circle of 12 monumental bronze sculptures. This offers a unique opportunity to engage deeply with Ai Weiweiâs work in different contexts across the city.
Ai Weiwei creates art that may be considered provocative or sensitive in nature. Some works address themes of social, political, and human rights issues or include explicit language or other elements that could be upsetting for certain audiences.