Ai Weiwei

Ai Weiwei is a major artist and cultural phenomenon. His work is visionary, iconoclastic and increasingly political. When he speaks, the world listens.

In September 2015, the Royal Academy will present a landmark exhibition of the Honorary RA, Ai Weiwei. As the first significant British survey of his artistic output, the exhibition will include major works spanning Ai Weiwei’s career, as well as including new work by the artist.

Ai Weiwei has worked in a variety of different contexts, referencing Chinese art and culture through both the choice of traditional materials and interventions with original historic objects, as well as exploring international Western contemporary art. The idea of creative freedom, especially the increasingly political aspect of much of his work, will be a prominent feature and underpin much of the exhibition.

This exhibition will follow in the Royal Academy’s tradition of celebrating its artist members at the very highest level.